BRACE yourself for worse traffic this weekend, the Metro Manila Development Authority advised commuters on Friday, because people will likely be flocking to shopping malls and attend various events before Christmas Day.
“The last Friday or the last weekend before Christmas, what do you think? Of, course traffic,” said lawyer Emerson Carlos after attending the Metro Manila Film Festival—New Wave Gala Night at the Glorietta in Makati City.
Carlos said his agency already advised the people that traffic will be heaviest on Friday and Saturday (Dec. 19), and also on Dec. 23, the time people are expected to do last-minute Christmas shopping.
Shopping malls and other commercial establishments are traffic generators during the Christmas holidays, he said.
“Various events are also happening, especially on a last Friday before Christmas. A lot of people are going out. There are Christmas parties and reunions, mall sales and other promos, the street tiangge and bazaars, and people from provinces going out to do shopping, attend events and visit friends and relatives in Metro Manila,” said Carlos.
MMDA officials said traffic volume also rises by 20 percent between November and December.
The agency had earlier urged the public to do their Christmas shopping early to avoid the holiday rush and the expected traffic jams especially around shopping malls and other commercial centers.
Carlos also suggested that shoppers visit the shopping malls nearest to their residences to avoid contributing to road congestion.
Mall and commercial center operators recently agreed with the MMDA proposal to extend business hours to ease road congestion during the peak buying season.
At least 15 mall operators signed a manifesto announcing extended shopping hours, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Dec. 1 until Jan. 3.
Carlos said it has been an annual agreement the MMDA makes with the mall operators to somehow decongest traffic where these commercial establishments are located during the day time and night time holiday rush.
Under the agreement, mall and shopping center owners and operators will coordinate with the MMDA during special events, like promotions and midnight sales, as well as disaster-preparedness exercise such as earthquake drills.
It also stated that instances like concerts and the traditional New Year’s Eve countdowns, the establishments will be closing beyond 11 p.m.
sAside from the business hours, the mall operators also agreed to deploy more security personnel to man traffic and assist their clients and motorists in and around the shopping malls.
Among those who agreed with the MMDA include Robinsons malls, SM Malls, Ayala Malls, Shangri-La Plaza, Farmers Plaza, Gateway Mall, Greenfield Development Corp., Eastwood City, The Podium, Eton Centris and Walter Mart malls.