Manila to limit city traffic

Manila to limit city traffic

MANILA (AP): Manila officials announced yesterday a tough new plan to limit the number of cars on the capital's roads and reduce its notorious traffic jams.

Under the new plan, private vehicles will be banned three days a week from the streets of metropolitan Manila's nine cities and eight municipalities between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Vehicles with odd-numbered license plates will be banned on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and even-numbered cars will prohibited Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Violators will be fined 300 pesos (US$11.50).

Public transit vehicles and taxis are exempted from the ban, which begins next week.

Private vehicles will be exempted if they carry at least three people, including the driver.