Quick answer

A number-coding violation in Pasay City carries a ₱500 fine per offense under the harmonized Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023. The older ₱300 amount found in many online guides came from the original 1996 MMDA regulation and is no longer the current harmonized penalty.

Pasay generally follows the MMDA’s Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP):

Day	Restricted plate endings
Monday	1 and 2
Tuesday	3 and 4
Wednesday	5 and 6
Thursday	7 and 8
Friday	9 and 0

The usual restricted periods are 7:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. A coded vehicle may generally travel during the midday window, after 10:00 a.m. and before 5:00 p.m. The scheme is ordinarily not enforced on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but motorists should check the latest MMDA advisory because enforcement may be suspended or modified for weather, emergencies, special events, or other traffic conditions.

The applicable penalty in Pasay

The original UVVRP under MMDA Regulation No. 96-005 imposed a ₱300 fine. In 2023, however, the Metro Manila Council approved a single-ticketing framework with harmonized penalties through MMDA Resolution No. 23-02 and the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023.

Under the current harmonized code, a person who violates the UVVRP is fined ₱500. The code does not prescribe a higher UVVRP fine merely because the same motorist has committed the violation before. Separate violations committed during the same incident—such as driving without a valid license, disregarding a traffic sign, or illegal parking—may result in additional penalties.

Always read the actual citation. The ticket should identify:

The issuing authority
The cited violation
The date, time, and location
The plate number and vehicle information
The amount due
The payment or contesting instructions
The applicable deadline

Do not pay an amount based only on an unofficial website, social-media post, or verbal demand.

When a private vehicle violates the rule

A violation generally occurs when a covered vehicle is operated on a road where the UVVRP applies:

On the weekday assigned to the vehicle’s final plate digit;
During a restricted period; and
Without a recognized exemption or a valid, properly documented special exemption.

For a plate ending in 8, for example, the restricted day is Thursday. Driving the covered vehicle on an affected Pasay road at 8:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. may result in a citation. Driving it at noon is generally within the standard midday window, subject to temporary measures and other traffic rules.

Where a vehicle has no permanent plate yet, enforcement may depend on the number shown on the authorized temporary plate or conduction sticker. Do not assume that a newly purchased or unplated vehicle is automatically outside the scheme.

Roads and airport trips in Pasay

Pasay contains major MMDA-controlled corridors, including portions of EDSA and Roxas Boulevard, as well as roads serving the airport, terminals, and reclamation area. A driver should not assume that avoiding EDSA avoids number coding altogether.

Likewise, having a flight, dropping off a passenger, or driving toward Ninoy Aquino International Airport does not by itself create a personal exemption. Certain airport approaches or expressway segments may be outside ordinary UVVRP coverage, but the roads used before entering or after leaving them may still be covered.

Plan the complete route. If relying on a road-specific exception, confirm it through a current MMDA or Pasay advisory instead of relying on an old route list.

Vehicles expressly exempt under the harmonized code

The Metro Manila Traffic Code identifies the following categories as exempt from the UVVRP:

Public utility vehicles, including tricycles
Transportation network vehicles
Motorcycles
Garbage trucks
Fuel trucks
Ambulances
Fire trucks
Registered and marked government vehicles
Marked media vehicles
Motor vehicles carrying essential or perishable goods
Electric and hybrid vehicles

An exemption from number coding is not an exemption from registration, licensing, franchise, route, parking, truck-ban, or other traffic requirements.

Electric and hybrid vehicles

The statutory basis for the electric-vehicle exemption is the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, Republic Act No. 11697. The vehicle’s official registration records should support its electric or hybrid classification. A badge, decal, aftermarket conversion, or the owner’s description may not be enough if the Certificate of Registration does not establish the qualifying classification.

Essential or perishable goods

This exemption depends on the vehicle’s actual use and cargo, not merely on the owner’s line of business. Preserve delivery receipts, bills of lading, trip records, invoices, cargo photographs, and other contemporaneous documents showing what was being transported and why the exemption applied.

Government and media vehicles

The harmonized code refers to registered and marked government vehicles and marked media vehicles. A government employee’s personal car, an unmarked private vehicle, or possession of an office or press identification card does not necessarily satisfy those conditions.

Medical situations, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities

Do not assume that a vehicle becomes automatically exempt simply because its driver or passenger is a senior citizen, a person with disability, a doctor, or another health worker. Older regulations, city-specific programs, and special exemption certificates have changed over time.

A genuine medical emergency may raise different considerations, particularly if immediate care was necessary, but the conclusion will depend on the facts and available proof. Keep medical records, referral documents, appointment confirmations, hospital admission records, prescriptions, and time-stamped communications. If the situation was not an emergency, confirm in advance whether a current MMDA-approved exemption is required.

What to do if an enforcer stops you

Remain calm and move to a safe place as directed. Then:

Ask what specific violation is being cited.
Check that the plate number, date, time, location, and vehicle details are correct.
Note the enforcer’s name, identification number, and agency.
Accept only an official citation or electronically recorded ticket.
Do not hand over cash unless payment is being accepted through an officially authorized, receipted procedure.
Do not sign a blank or materially incomplete ticket.
Photograph the completed ticket as soon as it is safe to do so.
Follow the payment or contest instructions issued by the authority named on the ticket.

Signing or receiving a citation normally documents its issuance; it does not prevent a motorist from using the proper contest procedure.

How to pay the fine

Use the payment instructions printed on the citation. The proper channel depends on whether the ticket was issued by the MMDA, a deputized local enforcer, the LTO, or another authorized office.

For an MMDA-recorded violation, motorists may check the official May Huli Ka portal. The portal displays a payment option after a valid record is found. MMDA’s published contact numbers and other official channels are available on its contact page.

Before paying:

Match the ticket or notice number with the online record.
Confirm the plate and motor-vehicle file numbers.
Verify the violation date and location.
Use only the payment channel stated on the ticket or official portal.
Save the official receipt, confirmation number, and screenshots.
Check later that the violation has been cleared.

The applicable payment period should appear on the ticket. For an MMDA no-contact Notice of Violation, the official portal states a period of 10 working days from receipt of the notice. Do not automatically apply that deadline to a roadside Pasay citation; follow the period stated in the actual ticket because the document and issuing office may use a different procedure.

How to contest an incorrect citation

Do not pay first if you intend to contest and the applicable procedure treats payment as settlement or admission. File with the adjudication office identified on the ticket within its stated period.

Possible grounds may include:

The cited vehicle was not on the stated road at the stated time.
The plate or vehicle was incorrectly identified.
The citation used the wrong plate-ending day.
The alleged time fell outside the restricted periods.
The date was covered by an official suspension.
The vehicle belonged to an expressly exempt category.
The vehicle was transporting essential or perishable goods and the records prove it.
The official registration classified the vehicle as electric or hybrid.
The vehicle had been sold, transferred, stolen, or otherwise was no longer under the registered owner’s control, supported by proper documents.
The citation contains a material factual or procedural error.

An MMDA camera-based notice may be contested through the official MMDA E-Contest facility, subject to the instructions and deadline in the notice. A roadside ticket issued through Pasay should be contested through the office identified on that ticket unless an official instruction directs otherwise.

Evidence to preserve

Keep originals and clear digital copies of:

The citation, notice, and envelope showing the delivery date
Official receipt and payment confirmation
Driver’s license and vehicle OR/CR
Photographs or video of the location and relevant signs
Dashcam footage, saved before it is overwritten
GPS, toll, parking, fuel, delivery, or trip records
Time-stamped messages and appointment records
Proof of an official MMDA suspension
Electric or hybrid classification in the registration records
Franchise or TNVS documents, if applicable
Delivery documents for essential or perishable goods
Police reports, deeds of sale, transfer records, or theft reports
Medical records if a genuine emergency is relevant

Write down what happened while events are fresh, including the exact route, time, weather, traffic conditions, and conversation with the enforcer. If another person witnessed the incident, record their name and contact information.

Common mistakes to avoid

Relying on the old ₱300 fine

The ₱300 amount comes from the 1996 MMDA regulation. The harmonized Metro Manila Traffic Code sets the current UVVRP fine at ₱500.

Treating the midday window as an all-day exemption

The standard window only separates the morning and evening restrictions. A coded vehicle can still be cited if it remains on a covered road when the 5:00 p.m. restriction begins.

Assuming every Pasay road has the same status

Coverage may depend on the road, MMDA jurisdiction, local implementation, and temporary traffic measures. Check the entire route.

Assuming an airport trip is automatically exempt

A plane ticket or airport destination is not, by itself, one of the exemptions stated in the harmonized code.

Claiming an exemption without documents

The driver should be able to establish the vehicle’s classification, markings, registration, official use, franchise status, or qualifying cargo.

Ignoring an incorrect ticket

An error does not necessarily disappear on its own. Contest it through the issuing authority within the period printed on the ticket and retain proof of filing.

Paying through an unofficial account

Use only an official portal, authorized payment facility, or government cashier, and insist on a receipt.

When legal or immediate help may be necessary

Seek prompt assistance from the issuing authority or a Philippine lawyer if:

Your license, plate, or vehicle was taken without a clear legal basis or documentation.
The enforcer demanded an unofficial cash payment.
The citation includes an offense more serious than number coding.
The incident involved an accident, injury, arrest, or alleged resistance.
An unpaid citation is blocking registration or license renewal.
The vehicle had already been sold or transferred but violations continue to appear under your name.
You received a final demand or notice after missing the contest deadline.
The evidence involves a medical emergency or another fact-sensitive defense.
The ticket and electronic record contain different violations or amounts.

For urgent traffic-assistance concerns, motorists may contact the MMDA through Hotline 136 or the contact information published on its official portal.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the number-coding fine in Pasay?

The harmonized penalty is ₱500 per UVVRP offense under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023.

What are Pasay’s normal coding hours?

The standard MMDA periods are 7:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, subject to current official advisories.

Is there a window period?

Generally, yes. A coded vehicle may ordinarily travel after 10:00 a.m. and before 5:00 p.m., provided no special rule or temporary restriction applies.

Is number coding enforced on weekends or holidays?

The standard scheme does not apply on Saturdays and Sundays and is ordinarily lifted on holidays. Check MMDA’s current advisory because special announcements can modify enforcement.

Are motorcycles covered?

No. Motorcycles are expressly exempt from the UVVRP under the harmonized Metro Manila Traffic Code, although all other applicable motorcycle and traffic rules remain enforceable.

Are electric and hybrid vehicles exempt?

Yes, but the official registration documents should establish the qualifying electric or hybrid classification.

Does a PWD or senior-citizen passenger automatically exempt the car?

Not under the general exemption list in the harmonized code. A specific approved exemption, emergency, or other applicable official rule must be established with appropriate documents.

Can I drive to the airport on my coding day?

Only if the roads and times used are outside the applicable restriction or the vehicle independently qualifies for an exemption. An airport destination or airline ticket alone should not be treated as a blanket exemption.

Can I contest a ticket instead of paying immediately?

Yes. Follow the contest procedure and deadline on the citation or notice. Preserve the ticket and all supporting evidence, and obtain proof that the contest was filed.

Where can I check an MMDA-recorded violation?

Use MMDA’s official May Huli Ka violation checker. For a Pasay-issued roadside citation, also follow the directions printed on the ticket.

Official legal sources

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice for a particular citation or incident. Traffic implementation may change through official advisories, and the wording of the actual ticket or notice can affect the proper remedy and deadline. Sources and procedures checked as of September 3, 2026.