Doctors on emergency call and marked media vehicles will not be exempt from the odd-even traffic plan that will be implemented on June 16 as the EDSA rebuilding project begins.
MMDA chairman Don Artes said only the following categories of vehicles are exempt from the odd-even scheme which is expected to result in a 40 percent vehicle reduction in EDSA:
– Electric Vehicles (EVs), Plug-in Hybrids, and Hybrids recognized by the Department of Energy under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA);
– Non-motorized vehicles;
– Emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police mobile units;
– Public Utility Vehicles, including city buses, jeepneys, and taxis;
– Transport Network Vehicles (TNVs) that operate under accredited ride-hailing platforms; and
– Authorized marked government vehicles with official plates used for essential services.
Artes also announced that the dry run of the odd-even scheme, which will replace the regular coding of vehicles, will now be extended to a month. During the period, MMDA enforcers will flag down violators but will not impose penalties yet.
Under the new coding plan, plate numbers ending in odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 will not be allowed to traverse EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while those ending in even numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, and 0 will not be allowed to pass EDSA on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
All vehicles will be allowed to traverse the national highway on Sundays.
National Press Club president Leonel “Boying” Abasola said they will appeal the MMDA decision not to exempt marked media vehicles.
“The NPC recognizes the MMDA in their efforts in traffic decongestion, but we will ask the good MMDA chairman to reconsider it,” Abasola said.
For his part, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said he sees nothing wrong with the revival of the odd-even scheme and the non-exemption of doctors and media practitioners.
While he acknowledged the “urgency” of the nature of work of doctors and media, Salceda said “priority should be given to public transport and emergency vehicles.”
“I think the EDSA closure will force us to actually think about who deserves road space more. We should share the road in a way that conveys more people to where they need to go, rather than more cars,” the lawmaker said.
“In the United States and other countries where there is an NCAP (No Contact Apprehension Policy) system, doctors and media are not outright exempt but you can get all your tickets waived at the end of the year after justifying each instance. That might be a good alternative,” Salceda added.
On Monday, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon said the EDSA Busway and other forms of public transport would be prioritized during the EDSA rebuild.
Dizon said 100 buses would be added to the EDSA carousel route to encourage commuting.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, on the other hand, called for clearer and more consistent traffic rules as the government prepares to start the rehabilitation of EDSA.
Senator JV Ejercito said there must be window hours in the odd-even scheme to be carried out along EDSA during its rehabilitation, especially during the rush hours.
Senator Grace Poe added: “Any policy that restricts movement must be communicated clearly and justified with data.”
“To help commuters cope, companies can also do their part by offering shuttle services and adopting flexible work arrangements, including work-from-home setups, where feasible,” she added.
