DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / August 27) — A councilor here is pushing for the city government to adopt a “number coding” program as a way to reduce the worsening traffic problem here.

Councilor Jose Marie Bernardo R. Baluran, chair of the committee on transportation and communications, introduced his proposal, known as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), in his privilege speech during the council’s regular session Tuesday.

Davao’s traffic situation hit the limelight early this year with the release of the Tomtom Traffic Index, which ranked the city as having the worst in the world.

Baluran cited that the UVVRP has been effective in Metro Manila and emulated by Cavite, Dagupan, Cabanatuan, and Baguio with slight variations.

In Metro Manila, the number coding scheme uses the last digit of a vehicle’s license plate as to when it will be barred from city streets.

In Baluran’s proposal, plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 will be banned on Monday; then 3 and 4 on Tuesday; 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, and 9 and 10 on Friday.

There will be no number coding on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, according to Baluran.

“Because of our growing traffic problem, why not propose it in our city as it is effective in other cities as well?” he said in an interview.

Baluran added that a study will be conducted on the possibility of implementing the proposal.

He added that the number coding proposal will only be temporary.

“This is for the meantime only as the Coastal Road, Maa [flyover], and Ulas Bridge are not yet fully operational. So if there is no need [for the UVVRP] then we will return it to normal,” Baluran said.

He said there is a possibility that the program might continue after its trial if deemed effective, citing the “truck ban” was also a result of effective trial.

The estimated duration for the UVVRP will depend on the survey results to be conducted by the City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO), Baluran added.

He said that they will conduct a committee hearing next week to lay down their plans.

The TomTom Traffic Index, according to its publisher, “evaluates cities around the world by their average travel time and congestion level.”

Among 500 cities surveyed, Davao City’s traffic was ranked the eighth slowest. The report said that on the average, travel time in the city is 33 minutes and 59 seconds per 10 kilometers. Two other Philippine cities were included in the report: Manila City is ranked 14th (32:10) while Caloocan City placed 26th with a travel time of 30:44.

In terms of traffic congestion, Davao City was ranked third, Manila 27th, and Caloocan 39th. (Razl EJ Teman / MindaNews)