MMDA, mall operators to adjust operating hours starting November 17

It's a long running joke to say the Philippines celebrates the longest Christmas season in the world. Sometimes the "official" start is as early as September 1; the very onset of the -ber months.

As expected, traffic will get worse and worse as the holiday rush runs its course. Malls and shopping centers get packed as people need to shop for gifts, buy goods, or just spend time with family for lunch. This is something that causes quite a bit of congestion in the vicinity of malls in Metro Manila.

That's why the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and major mall operators across Metro Manila coordinate among themselves to make the job of traffic management easier. The latest agreement will see mall hours adjusted with opening times slated for 11 AM and closing times for 11 PM. This scheme will run from November 17.

“Ang napagkasunduan po namin ay yun pong mall hours ay magsisimula ng 11 AM to 11 PM effective November 17 hanggang December 25,” said MMDA Chairman, Atty. Don Artes.

(What we have agreed upon is that mall hours will start from 11 AM to 11 PM effective November 17 until December 25.)

Adjusting mall hours to open and close later in the day is part of a bid to get the mall operating hours out of sync from rush hours in the morning, as well as to give shoppers more time and feel less rushed later in the evening and spread out the congestion caused by malls and shopping centers. It also allows people who work in offices to have more time after their shift to buy what they need to buy.

Artes also added that the new mall operating hours will be from Monday through Friday only, with holidays and weekends excluded. Mall-wide sales are also limited to weekends, while mall deliveries will only be allowed from 11 PM to 5 AM only.

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