MANILA - The number coding scheme for private vehicles will be suspended on Friday, December 23 and on Thursday next week, December 29, the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (i-ACT) announced Monday.

The announcement came amid expected heavy traffic as Metro Manila residents are expected to go to their provinces for the Christmas break, and in preparation for Rizal Day on December 30.

The i-ACT will also be lifting the number coding scheme for all private vehicles on December 26, a special non-working holiday; on December 30 and on January 2, 2017, also a special non-working holiday.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Tim Orbos said the suspension of the number coding scheme will help the public use their vehicles to travel to their respective destinations outside the metropolis.

"These will afford them the opportunity to use their vehicles especially with provincial bus trips fully booked by this time," Orbos said, adding that people have started flocking to bus terminals as early as Monday.

Earlier, the traffic council also lifted the number coding scheme for provincial buses starting 1 p.m. of December 22.

The number coding scheme is also suspended for provincial buses on the following dates: December 22 (starting 1 p.m.), December 23, December 29, and on January 2, 2017.