MANILA- The “no window hours” policy for the number coding scheme has been extended for another 6 months, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday.

The decision came after the MMDA observed that the scheme has eased traffic condition along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, the MMDA said in a statement.

The no-window scheme on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. was implemented in major Metro Manila roads, including EDSA, in November to help ease heavy traffic during the holiday season.

Last December, Orbos said they have observed a 28-minute reduction in travel time along EDSA despite the heavy volume of vehicles for the holidays.

• READ: MMDA claims 28-minute reduction time in EDSA traffic

MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos said the extension will not result to people buying another vehicle because it will only be temporary.

"We do not see motorists resort to buying another car just to avoid the No Window Hours policy. It is just impractical," he said.

Under the scheme, vehicles banned on a certain day of the week depending on their license plate ending digits, cannot use major metro roads for the “window hours” that are usually from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The number coding scheme is also expanded to cover all circumferential and radial roads in Metro Manila under the existing unified vehicular volume reduction program (UVVRP).