Manila: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will extend the dry-run of the odd-even scheme on the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) for one month beginning June 16. In an advisory on Tuesday, the MMDA announced that the dry-run, which was initially slated for only one week, would serve as an information drive for the new traffic scheme to ensure motorists are aware of the policy before violators are fined.
According to Philippines News Agency, the MMDA stated, "Walang huhulihin sa loob ng isang buwan. Ang mga lalabag ay sisitahin lamang at padadalhan ng notice pero hindi pa papatawan ng multa (We won't apprehend anyone for a month. We will talk to them and we'll issue a notice but we won't fine them yet)." In addition, several vehicles are exempted from the odd-even scheme, including electric vehicles and other hybrids, motorcycles and non-motorized vehicles, emergency vehicles, public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as city buses, jeepneys, taxis, transport network vehicles (TNVS), and authorized marked government vehicles with official plates used in the delivery of essential services.
The MMDA further clarified, "Ang mga sasakyan naman na tatawid ng EDSA sa pamamagitan ng intersection ay exempted sa odd-even scheme (Vehicles crossing EDSA through an intersection are exempted from the odd-even scheme)." The odd-even scheme, to be enforced exclusively on EDSA, seeks to limit the number of private vehicles on the main thoroughfare to address the expected traffic congestion that will be caused by the EDSA rebuild beginning June 13 until its completion in 2027.
The scheme specifies that vehicles with license plates ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are prohibited along EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while those with plates ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are prohibited on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The scheme will not be implemented on Sundays.
On a related note, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon stated on Monday that the EDSA Busway and other forms of public transport would be prioritized during the EDSA rebuild. Dizon mentioned that 100 buses would be added to the EDSA carousel route to encourage commuting, and X-ray machines would soon be removed from Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations to prevent queuing, aside from adding more trains and train cars.
