Imagine if the last digit on your license plate determined when you were allowed to use public roads. In Metro Manila, Philippines, this is not a hypothetical idea. The system has been in place since 1995 through an official policy known as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), more commonly called the number coding scheme.
The program was designed to ease traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR), one of the most densely populated regions in the country. It is implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Its main objective is to limit the number of private vehicles on the road during peak hours, particularly along major corridors such as Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), widely regarded as one of the busiest traffic arteries in the Philippines.
How It Works: One Number, One Restricted Day
In simple terms, the UVVRP restricts private vehicles based on the last digit of their license plate and the day of the week. The rule applies from Monday to Friday and does not cover weekends or national holidays.
The scheme is as follows:
- Monday: plates ending in 1 and 2
- Tuesday: 3 and 4
- Wednesday: 5 and 6
- Thursday: 7 and 8
- Friday: 9 and 0
This means that if your vehicle’s plate ends in 3, you are not allowed to travel on designated roads on Tuesdays during the restricted hours.
Restrictions are enforced twice a day: from 7:00–10:00 a.m. and 5:00–8:00 p.m. Outside these periods, window hours apply, specifically 10:01 a.m.–4:59 p.m. and 8:01 p.m.–6:59 a.m. the following day, during which restricted vehicles are allowed back on the roads.
In general, the policy applies to most major roads across Metro Manila, although some cities impose local adjustments or do not recognize window hours at all. After 8:00 p.m., the restriction is lifted entirely, allowing all vehicles to circulate freely until the following morning.
Who Is Exempt?
Although the rule applies to most private vehicles, several exemptions are in place. Emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, ambulances, fuel tankers, and garbage trucks, are excluded from the restriction. The same applies to officially marked government vehicles and accredited media vehicles.
Public transport vehicles, classified as Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), including tricycles, are also exempt. Motorcycles, however, do not always receive exemptions in certain cities, such as Makati.
Notably, fully electric vehicles (EVs and BEVs), as well as Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) that are certified by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), are included in the exemption list.
Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs), however, do not qualify, as they cannot operate solely on electric power.
Beyond vehicle categories, certain individuals may also apply for exemptions through the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Eligible applicants include senior citizens aged 70 and above who drive their own vehicles, persons with disabilities holding official certification, doctors responding to medical emergencies, holders of accredited media IDs, as well as operational vehicles used by schools and companies to transport students or employees.
A Radical Solution in a Densely Packed Metropolis
Metro Manila is known for its high population density and traffic conditions that are rarely free-flowing. The steady rise in private vehicle ownership over recent decades has pushed authorities to adopt license-plate-based restrictions as a traffic management tool.
The system has also been implemented in several other Philippine cities, including Baguio, Cabanatuan, and Dagupan. In principle, the restrictions apply only on weekdays and during daytime peak hours, aiming to control congestion and reduce vehicle emissions.
To some, the policy may sound radical. But for Manila residents, the last digit on a license plate is more than just a vehicle identifier—it determines when they are, or are not, allowed to be on the road.
