2,437 ‘no window hours’ violations in last 2 days of dry run

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Metro Base reported 2,437 violators of its ‘no window hours’ rule during its October 13 to 14 dry run.

This was on top of the 600 violators caught on Day 1 of the dry run last October 12.

Traffic enforcers flagged down 1,330 vehicles on Thursday, October 13, along their assigned areas from 10 am to 3 pm with the following tally:

• EDSA – 369
• C5 – 221
• Roxas Boulevard – 137
• Alabang Zapote Road – 304
• Mandaluyong – 299

Despite being the last day of the dry run, another 1,107 violators were still recorded on October 14:

• EDSA – 350
• C5 – 277
• Roxas Boulevard – 109
• Alabang Zapote Road – 124
• Mandaluyong – 247

On the first day of the dry run, 600 violations were reported during the cessation of window hours, a 5-hour period (10 am to 3 pm) when motorists covered by the number coding scheme on a specific day can still pass without being apprehended.

Just a dry run?

Local Traffic Enforcer Wilfredo Diño, who operates along EDSA road in Pasay City, confronted a motorist along Roxas Boulevard who violated the new policy even during the dry run.

“Porke ba’t dry run lang at di ka ina-apprehend ay ilalabas mo pa rin ang sasakyan mo? Ang gusto natin dito ay para maibsan ang trapik sa Metro Manila,” he said. (Just because it is just a dry run and you do not get apprehended, you’d still bring out your car? What we want is to decongest our traffic problem in Metro Manila.)

The “no window hours” traffic scheme is set to be strictly implemented beginning October 17. Unlike the dry run, traffic enforcers may already apprehend and issue a ticket to violators during the implementation. (READ: Dry run of ‘no window hours’ starts October 12)

“Yung dry run, nararamdaman din namin ang konting pagbabago. Siguro sa Lunes, kapag puwede na sila i-apprehend, takot na yan. Siguro mga 20% ng sasakyan mababawasan.” (With the dry run, we can somehow feel a bit of change. Probably on Monday, when they can get apprehended, they will already be afraid. Maybe the number of vehicles will decrease by about 20%).

MMDA Traffic Engineering Center Director Neomi Recio said the traffic volume is expected to go down 20% in Metro Manila with the new policy. However, it is also still expected to increase by about 15% during the coming Christmas season. – Rappler.com