THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will not suspend the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding during the 3-day transport strike by Piston and Manibela set to start today, Wednesday.
MMDA chief Romando Artes said they do not expect the strike to paralyze public transport in the metropolis.
“I don’t think na magiging successful sila. Dahil nagsalita naman na po ang ating Pangulo na hindi na po isu-suspend o titigil ang modernization. So, in that aspect masasabi ko po na hindi successful ang strike nila (The President has spoken that the modernization will not be suspended or stopped. So, in that aspect, I can say that they will not be successful),” Artes said.
Artes previously explained that every time the MMDA suspended the number coding scheme, 20 percent more vehicles were added to the roadways.
This translates to around 800 more vehicles in EDSA and 400 more in C5, two of the metropolis’ prime thoroughfares.
Under the number coding scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, 9 and 0 on Friday during the said coding hours.
Artes also said the government is ready to assist commuters who would be affected by the transport strike called by Piston and Manibela to protest the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
“The government is ready to respond as usual,” he added.
