The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has reminded local government units on the memorandum for the suspension of road construction projects that causes heavy traffic which took effect on 14 November and will run until 6 January 2023.

The memorandum was signed by MMDA chairperson Romando Artes which aims to ease the expected heavy traffic during Christmas season.

"Only flagship projects of the government and projects that would not cause heavy traffic — such as those done on sidewalks and center islands — would be allowed to continue," MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said.

The spokesperson said that local governments can ask for an exemption, but it would still be deliberated on a "case-to-case basis."

"So if it's a flagship project, they fall under the exception," Carunungan said.

Traffic around Metro Manila is expected to swell during the Yuletide season with shopping sprees, trips in and out of the National Capital Region and Christmas parties are expected to boom now that Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Currently, the number of vehicles moving along EDSA is around 398,000, according to Carunungan.