THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said mall hours in the metropolis will be adjusted starting November 14 ahead of the Christmas holidays.
From the present 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. operating hours, malls will now open from 11 a.m. and close by 11 p.m.
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said the move came after the agency held a consultative meeting with mall owners and operators to help address the expected traffic woes during the holiday season.
“We have to implement remedial measures to reduce traffic congestion,” Artes said. “Mall wide sales will only be allowed during weekends. Also, deliveries will be during 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. only. Exempted from the regulation are deliveries of perishable goods, restaurants serving breakfast, and groceries.”
Artes added he also directed mall operators to submit their respective traffic management plans and indicate their mall sales and promotional events two weeks before such events are held.
“We will make a further study on their traffic management plan. We will deploy (the) necessary number of traffic enforcers to man traffic,” he said.
Artes also hinted at the possibility of lifting mall operating hours restrictions earlier than January 6, 2023, depending on the traffic situation after Christmas.
“We will observe the traffic situation in the metropolis on December 26. If the traffic is normal and manageable, we will immediately lift the restrictions and announce it to the public,” he said.
Artes said all excavation activities on national roads in the metropolis will be suspended effective midnight of November 14. The suspension will remain in effect until January 6, 2023.
The suspension includes road re-blocking works, pipe laying, road upgrading, and all other excavation works.
Artes said exempted from the moratorium are the following:
Flagship projects of the government, DPWH bridge repair/construction, flood interceptor catchment project (box culvert), asphalt overlay projects without re-blocking works, sidewalk improvement, drainage improvement projects along sidewalks not occupying any part of the roadway;
Footbridge projects, emergency leak repair or breakage of water line by Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services, project using trenchless or horizontal directional drilling method, new water service or electrical service connections, road activities without excavation (traffic clearance only), traffic signalization projects, and Meralco relocation works affecting major projects of the government.
