Starting Nov. 14, mall owners and operators in Metro Manila will adjust their operating hours as part of the measures to manage the expected traffic congestion during the Christmas season.
MMDA acting chairperson Romando Artes said the new mall operating hours, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., will start on Nov. 14 until Jan. 6 next year.
"We have to implement remedial measures to reduce traffic congestion. The new mall operating hours were agreed during a consultative meeting with major stakeholders," said Artes.
Based on the agreement, Artes said mall wide sales will be only allowed during weekends while deliveries will be during 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. only.
Exempted from the regulation are deliveries of perishable goods, restaurants serving breakfast, and groceries.
The MMDA has long been proposing to adjust the mall operating hours based on yearly observations on traffic congestion due to the huge volume of vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR) during the Holidays.
A meeting was held with stakeholders at the MMDA office wherein Artes requested mall operators to adjust their mall hours to alleviate expected heavier traffic jams during the Christmas season. Present during the meeting are representatives from SM Malls, Robinson’s, Araneta Center, Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Shopping Center, Trinoma Vertis, among others.
Mall owners and operators have agreed.
Artes said shopping mall operators are directed to submit their respective traffic management plans, and indicate their mall sales and promotional events two weeks before the scheduled of such events.
"We will make a further study on their traffic management plan. We will deploy a necessary number of traffic enforcers to man the traffic," said Artes.
Artes also hinted at the possibility of lifting mall operating hours restrictions earlier than Jan. 6 next year, depending on the traffic situation after Christmas.
"We will observe the traffic situation in the metropolis on December 26. If the traffic is normal and manageable, we will immediately lift the restrictions and announce it to the public," he said.