MMDA: Malls adjusting skeds to help ease holiday traffic

As the holiday season draws near, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) expects to reduce by at least 3,200 the number of vehicles plying Edsa during the morning rush hour by implementing traffic measures involving shopping malls located along the major thoroughfare.

Starting Oct. 15, malls across the capital would no longer be allowed to hold weekday sales, according to Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning.

The mall operators also agreed to the MMDA’s request to open late at 11 a.m. and hold nighttime deliveries for nonperishable goods.

Garcia said the MMDA would implement these measures a month earlier than last year and up to Jan. 15 next year.

Based on MMDA data, the number of vehicles in Metro Manila increases by 20 percent in the period leading to Christmas.

With these measures, it is estimated that around 200 vehicles making trips to each mall may be taken off total volume on Edsa during the morning rush hour, Garcia said. —Jovic Yee