Adjusted mall hours effective in easing Edsa traffic—MMDA

A view of Edsa in one of those ordinary weekdays. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Adjusting opening hours of shopping malls situated along Edsa would help further ease traffic along the congested 24-kilometer highway, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In a Radyo INQUIRER report on Saturday, MMDA spokeswoman Celine Pialago said they urged mall operators to maintain the adjusted mall operating hours of 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. , which was implemented during the holidays.

Pialago said this was part of the government’s proposed traffic reduction measures in Metro Manila.

Last October, the MMDA said mall operators agreed to open late and hold nighttime deliveries for nonperishable goods to reduce the volume of traffic on Edsa from October 15 to January 15 amid the holiday season.

During the implementation of the mall’s late opening hours, Pialago said there had been an increase in travel speed by about 30 minutes not only on Edsa but also in other major roads.

According to data provided by the MMDA Public Information Office, the average travel speed on Edsa increased by 9.29%, from 17.44 kilometers per hour in September to 19.06 kilometers per hour in November.

READ: MMDA wants to make permanent mall’s late opening hours

In a press conference last Thursday, MMDA assistant general manager for planning Jojo Garcia stressed the need for more traffic reduction schemes as the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program would go on full swing this year.

“Ang programa ng presidente natin na “Build, Build, Build,” itotodo iyan. Full blast tayo ngayong 2018. Alam natin na ang infrastructures na ito is for the benefit of the public,” Garcia said.

(The “Build, Build, Build” program of the President will go full swing. We will be in full blast this 2018. We know that these infrastructure [projects] will be for the benefit of the public.)

“We need all help and cooperation with stakeholders and malls, baka pwede paghatian ang mga kakarampot na kalsada sa napakaraming volume ng vehicles, at least shifting tayo pati sa paggamit ng kalsada,” he said.

(Maybe we can share the road with the huge volume of vehicles, at least we can do shifting when using the street.) /jpv