Traffic gridlock grips Marcos Highway amid Christmas shopping rush
AS the Christmas season approaches and traffic congestion looms, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is requiring mall operators in the National Capital Region to submit comprehensive traffic management plans before conducting mall-wide sales on weekends. The announcement was made Friday as part of efforts to mitigate the expected surge in vehicular traffic.
Victor Nuñez, head of the MMDA traffic enforcement group, emphasized the importance of these plans, stating that they should be submitted at least two weeks prior to any scheduled weekend sale. This will allow the MMDA to devise alternative routes and implement other measures to alleviate potential traffic gridlock.
Nuñez also reiterated the standing prohibition on weekday mall-wide sales, a measure that has been in place for several years to prevent further exacerbating traffic during peak hours. “Every year, we remind mall operators that weekday mall-wide sales are not allowed,” Nuñez stated in an interview with Dobol B TV.
The MMDA’s directive comes in the wake of recent traffic congestion on Marcos Highway, which was reportedly triggered by simultaneous mall-wide sales. The agency is taking proactive steps to prevent similar incidents from disrupting traffic flow during the busy holiday season.
In addition to the traffic management plans, the MMDA has implemented other measures to ease traffic during the Christmas rush. Malls in Metro Manila have adjusted their operating hours to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting November 17, and deliveries are restricted to the hours between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Mall-wide sales are also limited to weekends only.
