Dealing with the MMDA

This was forwarded to me by a colleague, who also received it from somebody else. However, the information it shares is very enlightening, and is useful for everybody who owns a car and drives - especially those who drive to work.

All information below is part of the forwarded message.
Sharing MMDA color coding and other helpful facts


I called their hotline kanina kasi nakaka-praning talaga at naguguluhan ako sa coding scheme. Which cities are exepmted, meron at walang window period. I searched the web prior pero iba-iba ng sinasabi sa mga forums. Then finally, yung nakausap ko from MMDA hotline 163 (salamat at sinagot nila agad yung call ko) gave me the following info on the color coding scheme:

1. No window hours: Makati, Malabon and Las Pinas. Number Coding is in effect from 7 am to 7 pm!
2. No number coding: Taguig, Marikina and Paranaque. So, feel free to roam around these cities anytime.
3. Pasig City has window hours of 9 am to 4 pm (note the 1 hour additional to the normal 10 am-3 pm window).

*Just as an aside - I heard that Pasig has adopted the same window hours as the rest of the other municipalities. No extra hour. Since there is no way to confirm this in Pasig, I advise conservatism and just assume the shorter window, just to be
sure. ->>*
4. San Juan has window hours now according to MMDA website.
5. Pasay City is implementing Number Coding except on the following roads: Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Domestic Road, Portions of Airport Road, Sales Road, Tramo.
6. EDSA, C5, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Roxas Blvd (Pasay) have window hours regardless of the city (meaning one can drive via EDSA in Makati any day).
7. For the rest of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, parts of Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig, and Valenzuela) number coding is in effect (window hours of 10 am-3 pm is also observed).

Eto naman sa isang forum ko nakita. Paki confirm na lang yung facts:

TOOLS AGAINST MMDA OFFICERS

I just reached my limit last weekend, and decided to take action against the abusive MMDA enforcers. I basically called up the MMDA head office and inquired from the Personnel Officer, Antonio Pagulayan, to clarify their policies. Here is what I got.

If any of these abuses seem familiar to you, Mr. Antonio Pagulayan (Personnel Officer) has asked that you call either the MMDA hotline (163) or call the METRO BASE at 0920 9389861 or 0920 9389875 and ask for an Inspectorate. They will send inspectors to the place where these MMDA officers are extorting, even while you are arguing out of your apprehension.

6. MMDA officers are not allowed to group together in order to apprehend. They are not even allowed to stand together in groups of 2 or more. The only time they are allowed to work together is for special operations (probably when they apprehend groups of buses for smoke belching)
7. Swerving IS NOT a traffic violation. Moving one lane to the left or right is not swerving, no matter where on the road you do it. And it is even less of a violation when you do it with a signal. Swerving is defined as shifting 2 or more lanes very quickly.
So you can argue your way out of this, and call the Metro Base for help.
8. Sadly, using the yellow lane is a traffic violation and will get you a ticket. However, buses are really not allowed to go out of the yellow lane, so if you see selective apprehension of private cars only, you may complain.
9. MMDA has confirmed that your license MAY NOT BE CONFISCATED at a traffic apprehension. The only time they can do so is if you are part of an accident, or it is your third violation and you have not settled your fines yet. They are only allowed to give you a ticket, which you can contest. He recommends actually receiving the ticket in some instances, so that you can
report the officer who did it.
10. Also, you are free to ask any of these officers for their "mission order", which is written by their supervisor. If they apprehend
you for a violation that is not in their mission order for the day, you can report them and they will receive disciplinary action.