By Gabriela Baron
Metro Manila malls will extend operating hours beginning next week ahead of the holiday season, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
MMDA said mall hours in Metro Manila will be adjusted to 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. from Nov. 14 to Jan. 6, 2023.
MMDA Acting Chairperson Romando Artes said the agency requested mall operators to adjust their mall hours to alleviate expected heavier traffic jams during the Christmas season.
“We have to implement remedial measures to reduce traffic congestion,” Artes said.
Aside from this, mall-wide sales will only be allowed during weekends. Deliveries, meanwhile, will be during 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. only.
Artes said shopping mall operators were directed to submit their traffic management plans as well as to indicate their mall sales and promotional events two weeks before the scheduled 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,” he added.
“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.” –ag
