New Plan to Combat Holiday Traffic in Metro Manila

Photo courtesy of Balita

Efforts to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila have led to calls for postponing mall-wide sales until January or February. Metro Manila Council President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora supports the initiative, aligning with sentiments from Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Don Artes. Both leaders aim to ease traffic by avoiding the additional holiday rush burden.

The proposal emerges after recent advisories noting the detrimental impact of simultaneous mall closures on traffic flow. Artes highlighted in a Presidential Communications Office briefing that mall closures often result in a significant traffic surge. Zamora echoed this view, emphasizing that Christmas alone draws enough crowds to malls, with sales only intensifying the influx.

Zamora suggests rescheduling large sales events post-holiday season, as he believes they exacerbate traffic issues. Controlled timing could mitigate crowd volumes, with Zamora advocating for organized dispersal post-Christmas. Both officials hope this strategic delay will ease the crowded conditions typical of the season.

Artes clarified that the MMDA does not intend to outright ban sales but recommends staggered schedules to prevent uniform traffic spikes. Individual stores may hold sales, but mall-wide events should be coordinated to avoid synchronous traffic disruptions.

Looking ahead, authorities will likely engage with mall operators to devise more effective scheduling systems for sales events in 2024. Their goal is to implement these measures without adversely affecting businesses, ensuring smoother traffic management during peak shopping periods, reported Balita.

Key Takeaways

• Authorities recommend delaying mall-wide sales to ease traffic congestion.
• This initiative suggests scheduling sales post-holiday season in early 2024.
• Individual store sales remain permitted; outright bans are not intended.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Balita 2025-12-16