The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday rolled out a set of traffic management measures designed to alleviate the expected increase in traffic congestion during the Christmas season.
These measures will take effect from November 17 to December 25.
Following a meeting with mall operators in Metro Manila, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes announced that starting November 17, the operating hours of malls will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Mall-wide sales will only be allowed to be held on weekends. However, some stores or outlets within the mall may hold sales even on weekdays, as long as no announcements, advertisements, or tarpaulins are made in connection with them.
Shopping mall operators were also asked to submit their respective traffic management plans to the MMDA for their mall sales and other promotional events two weeks before the scheduled dates of such events.
There are 131 malls in the National Capital Region, and 29 of them are located along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
Deliveries of shopping mall operators will only be allowed during nighttime, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day, except for perishable goods such as food and ice.
The MMDA said shopping malls and commercial centers significantly contribute to heavy traffic on Metro Manila’s main roads, especially during thr “ber months” as the holidays approach.
The agency expects at least a 20 percent surge in traffic during this period due largely to increased activity at these establishments.
“The Christmas season brings with it a 10 to 25 percent increase in vehicular volume in Metro Manila roads. By implementing these effective measures, we aim to provide a more manageable traffic flow for the holidays,” Artes said.
The MMDA will also enforce the temporary suspension of all road right-of-way excavation activities in Metro Manila from midnight of November 17 to midnight of December 25.
This includes road reblocking works, pipe-laying, road upgrading, and other excavation works that may hinder or disrupt the smooth flow of traffic.
Exemptions from the moratorium include government flagship projects, Department of Public Works and Highways bridge repair and construction, flood interceptor catchment projects, and emergency leak repair, among others.
The MMDA plans to deploy additional personnel at major intersections to ensure smoother traffic flow during peak hours, and considering requesting the Department of Transportation to extend the operating hours of the public transport system, especially the EDSA Bus Carousel, LRT, and MRT, to accommodate late-night commuters and mall employees.
