Motorists in Metro Manila will get a breather from the number coding scheme on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced the suspension of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) on 17 and 18 April.
In preparation for the Holy Week rush, the MMDA rolled out its "Semana Santa 2025" traffic management and deployment plan, which includes full deployment of traffic enforcers, roadside emergency teams, and 24/7 monitoring to ensure public safety and convenience.
The UVVRP suspension applies to all private vehicles in Metro Manila, allowing motorists to travel freely regardless of the last digit of their license plates during the two-day holiday break.
To manage the exodus of commuters and vacationers, the MMDA will deploy 2,542 field personnel and 468 traffic and emergency assets across key locations starting 16 April. Teams will be assigned to major transport terminals, churches, and Visita Iglesia routes, particularly in Antipolo and Grotto, where large crowds are expected.
A strict no-day-off, no-absent policy will be enforced for field personnel starting Wednesday, 16 April. From 18 to 20 April, skeleton deployment will remain in place, with focus on religious sites and provincial transport hubs.
Roadside emergency services will be on standby, with MMDA ambulances and tow trucks positioned in strategic areas. The MMDA’s Command and Communications Center in Pasig City will monitor traffic and incidents in real time via CCTV and coordinate with support agencies for quick response.
To accommodate provincial buses, the MMDA is allowing them to use EDSA from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM between 16 and 20 April. They may also operate on EDSA 24/7 during these dates to address the passenger surge. Northbound buses will terminate in Cubao, Quezon City, while southbound buses will end trips in Pasay City.
Expressways across Luzon are already showing increased traffic volume.
As of 11:00 AM on 16 April, southbound traffic on NLEX is building up in Valenzuela, with running speeds of 40–60 km/h. The rest of NLEX, SCTEX, NLEX Connector, and toll plazas remain light.
To ease congestion, NLEX Corporation activated zipper lanes in high-traffic areas. Northbound lanes from Balintawak to Marilao and San Fernando to Dau will be open from 2:00 PM on 16 April until Holy Thursday, 17 April. Southbound zipper lanes will be activated starting 11:00 AM on 19 April from Dau to San Fernando, Balagtas to Bocaue, and the leftmost lane of the Old Candaba Viaduct. Additional southbound zipper lanes will be available from 20 to 21 April, including an extension from Bocaue to Balintawak.
On SLEX and Skyway, moderate congestion has been observed. As of 12:00 PM, the northbound tail end at Del Monte Toll Plaza stretches about 600 meters. At Skyway At-Grade, the northbound Bicutan exit is backed up by around 3.5 kilometers.
NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) remains passable, with light traffic reported across all toll plazas and entry/exit ramps. On MaTES-SLEX, southbound traffic at Bagambang Bridge has a tail end of around 500 meters, while other areas report light flow.
Other tollways, including TPLEX and Cavitex, have yet to report major slowdowns but remain under active monitoring by their respective traffic management units.
Road reblocking and repairs will be carried out on select Metro Manila roads from 11:00 PM on 16 April 16 until 5:00 AM on 21 April. Specific road closures will be announced on MMDA’s official social media pages.
Commuters are advised to avoid unauthorized or “colorum” vehicles and instead use registered transport services for safety. For assistance, updates, and emergency help, the public may contact the MMDA Metrobase Hotline at 136.