MMDA to malls: Submit traffic plans before weekend sale amid Christmas rush

Mall operators in the National Capital Region should submit traffic management plans before implementing mall-wide sales on weekends amid the Christmas rush, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday.

MMDA traffic enforcement group head Victor Nuñez also reiterated that mall operators in Metro Manila are prohibited from holding mall-wide sales during weekdays to ease the expected heavy traffic during the season.

“Every year ang pinapakiusap namin bawal sila mag-weekday mall-wide sale,” Nuñez told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(Every year we ask mall operators not to hold a weekday mall-wide sale.)

“At kung mag-weekend sale sila na mall-wide sale, dapat meron silang traffic management plan and they should submit the traffic management plan sa MMDA at least two weeks before the mall-wide sale,” he added.

(And if they hold a weekend mall-wide sale, they should have a traffic management plan and they should submit it to the MMDA at least two weeks before the mall-wide sale.)

With this, Nuñez said the MMDA will be able to provide alternative routes among other measures to avoid traffic congestion during the mall-wide sales on weekends.

The MMDA official made the statement after simultaneous mall-wide sales reportedly caused the recent gridlock on Marcos Highway.

In October, the MMDA announced several measures to manage the expected heavy traffic in NCR due to the Christmas rush.

Malls in Metro Manila have adjusted their operating hours to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting November 17. Mall deliveries are only allowed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. 

Aside from these, mall-wide sales are only limited during weekends.—AOL, GMA Integrated News