MALL operators have agreed to extend their operating hours to help ease the anticipated traffic congestion this coming Christmas season.
In a meeting with mall operators on Friday Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis N. Tolenino has proposed a staggered mall operating hours to help untangle traffic snarls being experienced in the vicinity of shopping malls.
“Almost all shopping mall operators along Edsa agreed that their operating hours will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” he told reporters after the meeting, adding that shopping malls along the busy Edsa have agreed to extend their operating schedule by an hour.
Among the malls who have agreed to extend their operating time include Robinsons, SM, Ayala, Megaworld and Walter Mart malls.
At present, shopping malls open at 10 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
In his proposal, Tolentino said some malls could open early, while others can operate on late hours.
The MMDA chief explained that with the extended operating schedule, the opening and closing time of malls are no longer simultaneous with the rush hour.
“This will be the first time that malls will open at 11 a.m., but it will not be simultaneous with the rush hour, so we will ease traffic,” he said.
He noted that traffic volume usually rises 15 percent to 20 percent between November and December.
Because of this, the new mall operating time is proposed to be implemented from November 28 to January 3, 2015.
Tolentino also advised shoppers to do their Christmas shopping early and try to avoid the holiday rush and the expected traffic jams, especially around the big shopping malls.
He also suggested that shoppers visit the shopping malls nearest to their residences to avoid being trapped in traffic jams.