To restrict the number of motorists seeking exemption, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has decided to increase the application fee for exemption to the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly known as the “number coding scheme.”

From P100, owners of motor vehicles seeking exemption from the UVVRP have to pay P300 as processing fee.

According to MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes, it is high time for the fees to be increased due to the increasing number of motorists seeking exemption.

“The last time that the agency enacted the application for exemption was 11 years ago, hindi na tama sa panahon. Outdated na ang P100 kaya marami ang nag-aaply,” Inocentes said during a recent Metro Manila council meeting.

With the amendment that was approved by the Metro Manila mayors, Inocentes expressed optimism that the higher fee would discourage motorists from applying for exemption.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said the move is one of the measures designed to address the traffic situation in Metro Manila

The exemption is being given by the MMDA on a quarterly basis to qualified motorists. The agency also grants special exemption to vehicles not covered by the quarterly exemption on a case to case basis as warranted by the circumstances.

According to the report of the treasury division, the collection from the issuance of UVVRP exemption from January to December 2009 amounted to P4.4 million.

The Traffic Operation Center reported that as of 2008, 1.6 million registered vehicles were issued with the exemption certificates.

The UVVRP -- implemented by the MMDA and local government units (LGUs) except in the cities of Makati, Las Piñas, Malabon, and Pasig – was meant to ease vehicle volume on Metro Manila’s streets on specific days, depending on the last digit number of the license plate.

Makati City implements its own UVVRP as a local law without window hours while Pasig City has no number coding scheme.

Under the scheme, private and public vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are barred from all roads on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays, and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

Vehicles that may apply for exemption are ambulances, firetrucks, police cars, military vehicles, diplomat vehicles, government vehicles with LTO registration, school buses, company shuttle service, official media vehicles, and tow trucks accredited by the agency among others.