MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Just in time for the holidays, the number coding for vehicles plying Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares will be suspended and replaced with letter coding, a move that officials are confident will finally solve the nightmarish traffic in the metroplis.

The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is a huge headache for any car owner. Depending on the circumstances, this rule can mean a day of no commuting for people or families who own only one car.

In a nutshell, this rule prevents car owners from driving in some parts of Metro Manila depending on the last number of their vehicle’s number plate. Those ending in 1 and 2 are not allowed to travel on Monday; 3 and 4 on Tuesday; 5 and 6 on Wednesday; 7 and 8 on Thursday; and 9 and 0 on Friday.

The new letter scheme, a brainchild of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, works this way:

• Each registered vehicle will be given a letter sticker to be displayed on the front and rear windows
• Those with the letters A-G are not allowed to travel on Monday; H-P on Tuesday; Q-V on Wednesday; and W, X, Y and Z on Thursday.
• Friday is a free for all — all vehicles will be allowed regardless of assigned letter
• Motorcyles, tricylces and horse-driven carriages (kalesa) are exemptd from letter coding

The new traffic regulations will go into effect on December 1 this year, just in time for the Christmas shopping season.

Motor vehicle drivers are advised to bring their vehicle registrations to their nearest Land Transportation Office  (LTO) to receive their assigned letter stickers.