MMDA TRAFFIC PLAN, ADJUSTED MALL HOURS DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) together with mall operators in the National Capital Region, as part of its traffic management measures for the upcoming Christmas season, mall hours will be adjusted to alleviate traffic congestion.

According to MMDA chairman Atty. Romando Artes, starting November 18 until December 25 all malls in the NCR will open by 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. While the closing time will depend on the discretion of mall owners. 

“But we encourage them to extend so that those who want to bypass the traffic can stay longer and then they can do things like grocery, last-minute shopping."

Shopping mall operators in Metro Manila will open at 11 am, an hour later than their usual 10 am opening time starting November 18 (Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News)

Artes said his agency had garnered unanimous support from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), shopping mall operators, water, electricity, and telecommunications companies in implementing traffic alleviation measures during the holidays.

Opening hours of 131 shopping malls in Metro Manila would be adjusted, 29 are located along EDSA. Based on the latest data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, there are 421,000 vehicles traveling along EDSA on a daily basis as of September 24.

Other traffic alleviating measures for the Christmas season according to MMDA includes, Temporary suspension of all road right-of-way excavation activities in Metro Manila from midnight of November 18 to midnight of December 25. This covers road reblocking works, pipe-laying, road upgrading, and other excavation works that may hinder or disrupt the smooth flow of traffic.

Government flagship projects, DPWH bridge repair and construction, flood interceptor catchment projects, emergency leak repair, among others were exempted from the moratorium. 

Also, requiring shopping mall operators 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.

Mall-wide sales will not be allowed, but sales at certain stores or outlets inside the mall may be permitted even on weekdays, provided that no announcements, advertisements, or banners are displayed.

Aside from these, the MMDA chair said that they would also ask the Department of Transportation to extend the public transport system’s operating hours, particularly the Edsa Bus Carousel, light-rail transit, and metro-rail transit, to accommodate late-night commuters and mall employees.

“We have to implement remedial measures to reduce traffic congestion as vehicle volume in Metro Manila increases during the holidays,” Artes said.

Source: ABS-CBN News 

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