MANILA, Philippines — Expecting traffic jams to become heavier as Christmas nears, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is once again considering a ban on mall sales during weekdays as well as some adjustments in mall operating hours this holiday season.
MMDA Assistant General Manager for Planning Joe Campo said the agency is currently in talks with mall operators for the possibility of having mall sales, even concerts, held only during the weekends.
“There will be no more sales during weekdays, it can be done only on weekends,” Campo said during a hearing of the House transportation committee on Wednesday, listing MMDA’s planned traffic measures for the holidays.
He also said that MMDA is likely to ask mall operators to push back their operations and open at 11 a.m. instead of the usual 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.
Delivery of mall goods would also be prohibited during the daytime, the MMDA official noted.
“Deliveries shall be done from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m only. No daytime deliveries of goods,” Campo said.
There is yet a final date for the implementation of these measures, according to Campo, since MMDA and concerned mall operators are set to meet again later this month to finalize details.
But MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the ban on mall weekday-sales could already start by November.
“Baka November. Will call a meeting with the mall owners,” Garcia told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked about their target schedule for the enforcement of the mall weekday-sale ban.
Meanwhile, Campo said other measures of MMDA for this holiday season include banning colorum public utility vehicles as well transport network vehicle service units inside mall complexes and requiring mall operators to provide additional security guards, parking spaces, and entryways in their establishments.
MMDA further said it will encourage mall employees to carpool, noting that there are over 300,000 mall employees in Metro Manila alone. /kga