MMDA announces Metro Manila mall hours for Christmas season
Malls in Metro Manila are set to adjust their operating hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the Christmas season.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced the new schedule on Oct. 20 as part of its traffic management measures during All Saints' Day on Nov. 1 and the Yuletide season.
In a statement released on social media, MMDA acting chairman Don Artes said that apart from adhering to the adjusted operating hours, malls in the metro will only be allowed to conduct mall-wide sales on weekends.
Meanwhile, stores or outlets located inside the malls will be permitted to have sales during weekdays only without publicizing or advertising.
"Deliveries of shopping mall operators shall. only be allowed during nighttime, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day," Artes added,
These rules will be implemented to prevent traffic when many Filipinos do their shopping the most.
“Ito po ay para po masiguro na ‘yon pong mga events na ‘yan at mga sales ay hindi pagmumulan o magiging sanhi ng traffic,” Artes said in a press conference.
Metro Manila malls must also submit their respective traffic management plans to the MMDA for their respective mall sales and other promotional events two weeks prior to the events’ dates.
Traffic enforcers assigned to the night shift are likewise ordered to extend until 12 a.m. to ensure that they are as visible as possible during the holiday season.
Traffic enforcers were also instructed by Artes not to stop light violations to avoid traffic congestion.
"Ito po ay importante dahil ang bilin po natin sa mga enforcers [ay] ang uunahin ang traffic management," Artes said.
As for the upcoming long weekend this October, MMDA said that is activating its "Oplan Undas 2023" as early as Oct. 27 "to ensure the orderliness of this year’s traditional observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively."
Artes noted that officers will be deployed in key areas in the metropolis "to manage traffic, conduct cleanup operations, provide public assistance in case of road emergencies, and clear roads of obstructions ahead of Undas."
