MMDA, mall owners agree on 11-to-11 sked during Christmas rush

Published November 21, 2014 3:38pm

Mall operators, particularly those of establishments on EDSA, have agreed to adjust their operating hours to help ease traffic congestion at their respective locations with the expected Christmas rush over the coming weeks, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Friday.

A report by state-run Philippines News Agency quoted MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino as saying the 11-to-11 schedule would help ease traffic.

"Sa umaga hindi kasabay sa rush hour at sa gabi hindi rin kasabay sa rush hour," Tolentino said.

"For the greater good and it will not trim down the salaries of workers and also it will not decrease the earnings of the mall," he added.

Under the schedules:

Nov. 28 to Jan. 3: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Dec. 24 and 31: noon to 7 p.m.

Dec. 25, Jan. 1: noon to 8 p.m.

Malls where a New Year countdown will be held may be open until 1 a.m.

The MMDA said malls are usually open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Friday to Sunday.

However, supermarkets in SM malls will still follow its usual operating hours as agreed with the MMDA.

More security

Tolentino also said mall operators also agreed to deploy more security guards to manage traffic in and around the shopping malls.

Represented in the meeting were Robinsons Mall, SM Malls, Ayala Malls, Megaworld mall and Fisher Mall.

The MMDA noted traffic volume usually rises 15 to 20 percent between November and December.

Tolentino met with owners and managers of most malls in Metro Manila late Friday morning to discuss the proposed adjustments to mall hours.

The MMDA said they would assign 10 traffic constables and an officer from the Philippine National Police to help security personnel in malls.

Last week, the MMDA announced that it was considering asking mall operators in Metro Manila to adopt a staggered schedule to help ease the traffic flow that comes with the weeks leading to the Christmas and New Year holidays.

According to a report on 24 Oras, traffic volume usually rises 15 to 20 percent between November and December. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino and Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News

Tags: metromaniladevelopmentauthority, malls, paskongpinoyguide