A driver victimized by the street “wash boy” was issued a ticket by a traffic enforcer for violating the number coding scheme.
Automotive publication VISOR on Saturday, September 6, posted rear dashcam footage sent by Xerd lyaa Cleo. This video shows a gray vehicle behind them during a standstill traffic in Metro Manila.
Moments later, a boy carrying a pail approaches the gray vehicle and begins wiping the driver’s side windshield with soap and water.
Before the boy could finish, a traffic enforcer was seen approaching the gray vehicle.
“Patay ka. Coding,” a voice from inside the vehicle with the dashcam — which was positioned in front of the gray vehicle — can be heard saying in the background.
As the enforcer spoke with the driver, the wash boy continued his routine, moving to the other side of the windshield to wipe it with soap and water.
“Coding, huli,” an individual can be heard saying in the footage. “Itong nasa likod ko, huli.”
The same individual then reads the gray vehicle’s license plate number and added, “Coding siya… alas singko na eh.”
As the traffic enforcer continued speaking with the driver, the wash boy had already finished cleaning the windshield but remained standing nearby.
“Na-ticket-an pa siya. Alas singko, ‘di pa siya umabot, kakaliwa na siya dito sa Cavitex,” the individual in the footage said.
The video was captioned: “‘Yung hindi ka nakaligtas sa windshield wash boy pati sa coding kay kuya MMDA.” It was accompanied by a pleading face emoji.
The video has garnered about one million views, 19,000 likes and reactions and almost 970 comments so far.
“From 10 pesos to 500 pesos real quick,” a Facebook user said, referring to the money potentially shelled out for the wash boy and the enforcer.
“Na-combo, hahahaha,” another reacted.
“Spotter ‘yang wash boy,” another commented in jest with laughing emojis, referring to how the enforcer appeared after the wash boy in the scenario.
“Plot twist: taga-spot pala si wash boy ng mga coding,” quipped a different Pinoy with a laughing emoji.
Coding scheme
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority implements the number coding scheme on major roads in Metro Manila, except in Makati City.
Under the scheme, vehicles with specific plate numbers are prohibited from traveling between 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
A “window hour,” when restricted vehicles may travel, is observed from 10:01 a.m. to 4:59 p.m.
The number coding scheme is implemented to reduce the vehicle volume and ease traffic congestion in urban areas.
‘Wash boys’
Meanwhile, cases involving street “wash boys” continue to surface in various cities, where individuals approach vehicles stuck in traffic and attempt to clean windshields or windows in hopes of receiving tips.
Some have reportedly resorted to hitting or tapping on vehicles when drivers refuse to give coins or bills.
There is also no guarantee that they use proper materials suitable for cleaning automotive glass, raising concerns about potential damage to vehicles.
