By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday refuted reports that it imposed a ban on mall-wide sales to ease the expected traffic congestion this holiday season.
During the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Victor Maria Nunez of the MMDA recalled that Chairperson Don Artes met with mall operators on Oct. 17 to request a change in opening hours to start at 11 a.m. up to at least midnight from Nov. 18 to Dec. 25.
He said Artes also asked to receive mall delivery trucks only from 10 p.m. to 5: a.m.
Another agreement, Nunez said, is for malls not to offer sales simultaneously.
“All the mall operators agreed on that and we never prohibit each store or retailer from conducting their own sales,” he said.
“We never banned or [prohibited] the mall-wide sales. Wala hong black and white and we don’t even have a penalty sa magko-conduct nun.”
Nunez, however, appealed to mall operators to coordinate with the MMDA two weeks ahead of the sale and also provide the office with a traffic management plan.
Ronhel Papa, who represented SM Malls during the hearing, assured that they would adhere to the appeal.
“We are coordinating closely with the MMDA in order to alleviate the traffic conditions on our malls situated in EDSA thoroughfares,” Papa said.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the panel, urged the MMDA to ensure mall operators comply with the agreement.