The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced its plans to ease traffic congestion in NCR during the upcoming holiday season.
According to the agency, 421,000 vehicles use EDSA daily (as of September 24, 2024). Moreover, NCR has 131 malls with 29 of them located along EDSA.
To address the anticipated increase in vehicle volume, MMDA implemented several measures, including adjustments to mall operating hours and restrictions on mall-wide sales.
Starting November 18 to December 25, shopping malls in Metro Manila will open at 11 AM, an hour later than usual. While closing times will depend on the mall operators themselves.
Moreover, mall-wide sales will not be allowed during this time. However, individual stores or outlets can still hold sales, provided they do not advertise or promote them.
MMDA has also restricted deliveries to shopping malls between 11 PM and 5 AM, except for perishable goods.
Lastly, all road right-of-way excavation activities in Metro Manila will be suspended from November 18 to December 25. This includes road reblocking works, pipe-laying, road upgrading, and other excavation works that may disrupt the flow of traffic. Exempted from this are flagship projects of the government, DPWH bridge repair and construction, and emergency leak repair, among others.
In addition to these measures, the agency said it will coordinate with the Department of Transportation to extend the operating hours of public transportation, such as the EDSA Bus Carousel, LRT, and MRT, to accommodate late-night commuters and mall employees.
