
By Alec Go
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced the number coding scheme will resume on Tuesday, March 7, the second day of the week-long transport strike.
In its news release, MMDA said the first day of the strike “had a minimal effect on the commuters” with only a few public utility vehicle (PUV) operators participating in the strike.
MMDA Acting Chairperson Romando Artes said moderate traffic was observed on major roads on Monday.
The MMDA also noted the deployment of units to mitigate the possible impact of the strike.
“Ahead of the transport strike, assets were pre-positioned, contingency plans were in place, and routes that would be affected by the strike were identified,” Artes said.
Of the 1,680 vehicles tapped by the government to transport commuters, only 88 or 5% were utilized to serve 3,584 passengers.
Citing a report of the Philippines National Police, the MMDA said there were no untoward incidents such as arrests and injuries recorded on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation reiterated that it is open to having dialogues with transport groups on the PUV modernization program. – gb