Number Coding in Manila: An Updated Guide for Motorists

By: Melecio Martin G. Arranz IV

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.

Number Coding Scheme Schedule

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.

License Plate Ending in	Coding Day
1 and 2	Monday
3 and 4	Tuesday
5 and 6	Wednesday
7 and 8	Thursday
9 and 0	Friday

Number of Coding Hours per City

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:

City	Coding Hours	Window Hours
Caloocan	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Las Pinas	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Makati	7 AM to 7 PM	None
Mandaluyong	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Malabon	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Manila	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Marikina	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM (only on Marilaque/Marcos Highway)	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Muntinlupa	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM (only on Alabang-Zapote Road)	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Navotas	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Paranaque	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Pasay	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Pasig	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Pateros	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Quezon City	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
San Juan	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Taguig	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM
Valenzuela	7 AM to 10 AM, 5 PM to 8 PM	10:01 AM to 4:59 PM

Which Roads Follow the Number Coding Scheme?

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 Exemptions

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

Frequently Asked Questions About the Number Coding Scheme

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.

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