MMDA Chair Don Artes said he will ask mall operators across Metro Manila to suspend mall-wide sales during the Christmas season after a weekend gridlock left motorists stuck for hours along Marcos Highway.
During a Wednesday Palace briefing, he said simultaneous mall-wide promotions trigger crowd surges that spill onto major roads and overwhelm traffic flow in Metro Manila and nearby cities.
“Kinausap din po natin ‘yong mga LGUs regarding mall-wide sale. Dapat po siguro ipagbawal din muna po dahil… pagkasara po ng mall, sabay-sabay po naglabasan na talaga naman pong naging dahilan ng sobrang bigat ng daloy ng trapik,” Artes said, referring to the heavy congestion that hit Marikina, Pasig, Cainta, and Antipolo on Saturday. He noted that mall-wide sales in commercial centers outside Metro Manila also contributed to the slowdown on Marcos Highway.
Artes then reiterated the request directly to mall management. “Uulitin ko po hindi po namin pinagbabawal or pinakikiusap na ipagbawal yung sale. Ang sinasabi lang po namin wag sabay sabay na buong mall ay sale. So on a first store basis. Pwede pa rin pong mag sale,” he said.
The MMDA’s appeal comes as the holiday season again intensifies congestion in Metro Manila, with shoppers, office gatherings, and travel activity pushing road capacity to its limits.
Adjusted mall hours are in effect until December 25, with malls opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 11 p.m. except on weekends and holidays. Current rules also limit mall-wide sales to weekends only.
