A Davao City councilor has proposed the implementation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or the number coding scheme, to help ease the worsening traffic in the city.
Third District Councilor Jose Mari Baluran, chair of the Committee on Transportation and Communications, in his privilege speech on Tuesday said that the number coding scheme is already implemented in Metro Manila and other cities like Baguio, Cabanatuan, Cavite, and Dagupan.
Baluran said he already broached the idea with acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who was open to the measure but told him that it still need a thorough study by traffic enforcement agencies.
In his proposal, vehicles will be restricted on major thoroughfares based on the last digit of the license plate. Plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 will be barred on Monday; 3 and 4 on Tuesday; 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, and 9 and 10 on Friday. No number coding will be enforced on weekends and holidays.
“Because of our growing traffic problem, why not propose it in our city as it is effective in other cities?” he said.
Baluran pointed out that the scheme will only be temporary.
“This is for the meantime only as the Coastal Road, Maa flyover, and Ulas Bridge are not yet fully operational. So if there is no need for the number coding scheme then we will return it to normal,” he said.
He added that they will conduct a committee hearing next week to discuss their plans.
