MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified on Tuesday that it has not implemented a ban on mall-wide sales to reduce traffic congestion during the Christmas season.
During a Senate committee on public services hearing, traffic enforcement group director Victor Nuñez explained that MMDA Chairman Romando Artes met with mall operators on October 17 to discuss measures aimed at easing traffic in the city.
These measures include extending mall hours from 11 a.m. to midnight between November 18 and December 25 and limiting deliveries to malls from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Nuñez stated that mall representatives agreed to avoid scheduling sales at the same time.
“We never banned mall-wide sales. There’s no black and white on this. We don’t even have penalties for conducting these activities,” he said, stressing that the MMDA’s role is mainly advisory.
Nuñez also urged mall operators to coordinate with the MMDA at least two weeks before holding sales and to submit a traffic management plan to the agency.
