MANILA (Updated) -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to lift the provincial buses' number coding scheme, while the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will hold a maintenance shut down for Holy Week, March 24 and 25.
In an advisory posted on its Twitter account, the MMDA said the move was due to the expected increase in the number of people traveling to and from the provinces.
The MMDA said on Holy Wednesday, March 23, the beginning of the long weekend for the observance of the Holy Week, provincial buses are exempted from number coding scheme to allow them to transport passengers who are leaving Metro Manila.
MMDA chair Emerson Carlos said: "To ensure that there would be enough Public Utility Buses (PUB) to serve passengers intending to observe the Holy Week in the provinces, it is necessary to temporarily lift the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program for all provincial provinces on March 23, 2016."
The MMDA has yet to announce if the same exemption will also apply to other public transport or private vehicles.
The LRTA said train operation in both line 1, which plies from Baclaran in ParaƱaque to Roosevelt in Quezon City and vice versa, and line 2, which route is from Recto in Manila up to Santolan in Pasig City and vice versa, are cancelled from Maundy Thursday, March 24, to Easter Sunday, March 27.
LRTA said annual maintenance activities will be conducted in both lines during those days, adding that they are taking advantage of the Holy Week where only few people are expected to use the train system and that traffic on the roads are expected to be lighter than the usual since many are expected to be on vacation.
Train operation of LRT's lines 1 and 2 will resume on Monday, March 28, the LRTA management said.
The Metro Rail Transit, which travels from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, has yet to announce if they will adapt LRTA's Holy Week schedule.
The Philippines will observe the Holy Week on the 4th week of March this year. (With reports from Keith A. Calayag/Sunnex)