MMDA: Adjusted mall hours to start Monday

MANILA, Philippines — In anticipation of a surge in traffic volume during the Christmas season, mall operations in Metro Manila will be adjusted, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced yesterday.

Starting Nov. 14, the MMDA said malls would operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mall-wide sales are also prohibited during weekdays.

The adjusted mall hours will be in effect until Jan. 6, 2023.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said mall owners agreed to adjust their operating hours during a meeting yesterday.

“Sales will be allowed during weekends only. Also, deliveries will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.,” Artes said.

Exempted from the regulation are deliveries of perishable goods and groceries as well as restaurants serving breakfast.

Mall operators were also asked to submit a traffic management plan during sales so the MMDA could deploy additional personnel.

Artes said they would meet with officials of the Department of Transportation regarding the request of a mall operator to extend the operations of the EDSA bus carousel and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 until midnight.

According to the MMDA, traffic volume along EDSA is at 400,000 cars per day.

MMDA Traffic Engineering Center director Neomie Recio said there is an expected increase of about 20 percent in vehicular volume during the holiday season, equivalent to about 40,000 vehicles.

The MMDA said pre-pandemic traffic volume on EDSA was around 405,000 cars per day.

Road repairs, including reblocking, pipe laying projects and excavation works in Metro Manila will be suspended from Nov. 14 to Jan. 6 next year.