Number Coding in Manila: An Updated Guide for Motorists

Rush hour in Metro Manila occurs daily. To tame the traffic beast, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implements the number coding scheme. This system uses license plate numbers to assign specific days when affected vehicles have limited access to major roads during peak hours.

Savvy motorists know this code and meticulously plan their journeys to avoid the dreaded coding hours. However, navigating this system can be a bumpy ride for the uninitiated.

If you’re the latter, this blog is for you. It discusses number coding in Manila so you can navigate the metropolitan streets and get to your neighborhood essentials with confidence and ease.

Successfully navigating Manila’s coding scheme, along with the broader traffic patterns of Metro Manila, is key for residents and professionals commuting daily to major hubs. Whether you’re heading to the bustling business centers in Makati or Taguig, accessing commercial areas in Quezon City, or reaching key destinations in Pasay, understanding these regulations is crucial for efficient travel and making the most of living in these vibrant locations

The MMDA’s number coding scheme applies to private vehicles. The last digit of your plate number determines the day you can’t drive on Metro Manila roads.

The number coding scheme generally applies on most Metro Manila roads from Monday to Friday. However, the MMDA makes transportation in Metro Manila more flexible by designating window hours that allow you to be on the road. The only exception to these window hours is Makati City, which has its own traffic coding scheme.

Refer to the table below:

The following major roads observe MMDA’s number coding scheme.

• Araneta Avenue
• Aurora Boulevard
• Bonifacio Avenue
• C5
• C6
• Del Pan
• EDSA
• Magsaysay Boulevard
• Marcos Highway
• Ortigas Avenue
• Quezon Avenue
• Quirino Avenue
• Recto Avenue
• Rizal Avenue
• Roxas Boulevard
• Shaw Boulevard
• South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
• Taft Avenue

Number coding in Metro Manila has exceptions for certain roads and vehicle types, even though the system applies to the city. Here are exemptions you should take note of.

Roads:

• Samson Road, Caloocan
• Sales Road
• MIA Road
• Ninoy Aquino Avenue
• Domestic Road
• BGC
• Skyway
• NAIA Expressway
• Parts of Airport Road
• Parts of Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia)
• Other tollways and sections of toll roads that pass through Metro Manila

Vehicles:

• Electric and hybrid vehicles
• Public utility vehicles or PUVs (including tricycles)
• Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS)
• Motorcycles
• Garbage trucks
• Fuel trucks
• Ambulances
• Fire trucks
• Marked government vehicles
• Marked media vehicles
• Motor vehicles that carry essential or perishable goods

Since Makati City has a different coding scheme, it only honors the following exemptions:

• Ambulances, fire trucks, police patrol cars, and military vehicles on official function
• Vehicles with diplomatic plates
• Marked government vehicles
• Marked media vehicles in official use
• Makati City-accredited tow trucks
• Vehicles used by medical practitioners during emergencies
• Vehicles with Senior Citizen Blu Card holders as drivers or passengers

1. What are the window hours in number coding?

Except for Makati City, the window hours in Metro Manila are from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM and 8:01 PM to 6:59 AM the following day.

2. Is there a number coding in Metro Manila on holidays and weekends?

The MMDA suspends number coding in Metro Manila on holidays and weekends. It also lifts the scheme during calamities, public transport failures, and sometimes on special occasions, such as the day of the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

3. Are healthcare workers exempted from number coding in Metro Manila?

As of May 2022, the MMDA only exempts cars that doctors drive or ride in from the number coding scheme. To avoid a citation ticket, they must present a valid Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID. Other healthcare workers must still follow coding in Manila.

4. Are motorcycles exempt from the number coding scheme?

Motorcycles do not follow the coding in Metro Manila, except in Makati City.

5. What is the penalty for number coding violations?

The typical penalty varies between ₱300 and ₱500, depending on the location of the violation. You should settle the fine within seven days to avoid an increase and potential implications on your driver’s license renewal.

Metro Manila’s number coding scheme might seem like a riddle wrapped in a maze. The key? Pick a real estate location near your workplace and daily essentials to breeze through the coding scheme without stress.

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