There will be no exemption in the number coding scheme of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), new Chairman Francis Tolentino said in his first directive when he assumed the post on Tuesday.

But Tolentino clarified that vehicles used by medical practitioners and official media vehicles are excused from the order.

Tolentino said the immediate order was a result of the early briefing he had with predecessor, former MMDA chairman Oscar Inocentes and officials of the agency even before he took over the post as agency chairman.

“We will remove that (exemption in number coding). This is to stress the driver for equal rights. Everyone is of equal state on the road,” said Tolentino, stressing he will review existing methods and systems of the agency.

With the order, this would limit or prohibit motorists from applying for exemption to the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly known as the “number-coding scheme.”

The exemption is being given by the MMDA in 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.

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

Under the leadership of Inocentes, the agency restricted the number of motorists seeking exemption