The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has agreed with the operators of Metro Manila malls to reschedule their opening hours to help ease the volume of traffic and lower the number of commuters during morning rush hours during the holiday season.
In a briefing, MMDA General Manager Arturo Garcia said mall owners have agreed to delay their opening not earlier than 11 a.m. during weekdays while closing times will not be between 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning Nov. 11 this year to Jan. 10, 2020.
Garcia added that weekend mall schedules will remain at the discretion of their owners.
“We’re talking about more or less about 100 malls in Metro Manila.”
“Dati po kasi, 10 a.m. nagbubukas ang mall (In the past, malls would open at 10 a.m.). We’re talking about more or less mga (about) 100 malls ‘yan eh (there) in Metro Manila,” the MMDA official said.
Based on rough estimates of the MMDA and mall owners, each mall employs 2,000 to 3,000 employees—totaling to about 200,000 to 300,000 within Metro Manila alone.
“Yung 200,000 na ‘yan (That 200,000), we’re not talking about the clients pa (yet), the customers,” he said.
“Meaning yung 8 to 9 a.m. po mababawasan ng more or less 200,000 na tao. Ito po yung nagbu-bus, nage-LRT, MRT, nagji-jeep, motorsiklo, at yung iba may kotse (This means the 8 to 9 a.m. traffic will be lessened by more or less 200,000 people. These people are the ones using buses, the LRT, MRT, motorcycles, and cars),” Garcia added.
He said Edsa has an estimated capacity of 4,800 vehicles at 25 to 30 kilometers per hour (km/h)—a far cry from the current actual capacity of 7,000 vehicles which causes severe traffic slowdown.
“If we can reduce this by more or less 3,000 cars—in the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.—this will be a boon to the flow of traffic.”
“Kaya kung makakabawas tayo ng more or less 3,000 cars–yung oras ng 8 to 9 a.m., 9 to 10 a.m.–malaking tulong po yan sa flow ng traffic natin (That’s why if we can reduce this by more or less 3,000 cars—in the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.—this will be a boon to the flow of traffic),” Garcia said.
Delivery schedules for malls remain between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. with exceptions for perishable goods, he said.
Aside from the adjustment of mall schedules, mall owners have also agreed not to hold weekday mall sales within the said period.
Garcia added that a mall made an early announcement for a sale on Nov. 15 which will be given an exception.
To further help the MMDA in addressing vehicular congestion, SM Megamall and Trinoma have agreed to enforce strict traffic management in their areas of jurisdiction and loading bays to include the refusal of entry to public utility vehicles (PUV) once loading bays are already full to avoid these vehicles spilling into Edsa traffic.
Mall owners have also agreed to help the MMDA control “colorum” PUVs by refusing them entry to mall passenger loading areas and by providing additional security personnel in parking areas to boost security measures.