The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Wednesday said it has rolled out a series of measures to address the expected surge in traffic across Metro Manila during the Christmas season.

In a Palace press briefing, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes warned that traffic volume on major thoroughfares, particularly EDSA, has already surpassed road capacity.

“Sobra po kasi ang volume ng sasakyan. Based on our data from the same period last year, the first and second weeks of December saw as many as 450,000 vehicles on EDSA alone, more than its 250,000 capacity,” Artes said.

To manage the heavy traffic, Artes said the MMDA has intensified clearing operations along Mabuhay Lanes — designated alternate routes that help motorists bypass congested main roads.

He also urged commuters to use major public transportation systems, including the EDSA Bus Carousel, Metro Rail Transit, and Light Rail Transit.

In coordination with the Department of Transportation, the MMDA has extended operating hours for MRT and LRT services, as well as other public transport systems, to encourage motorists to leave their private vehicles at home.

Addressing the recent traffic gridlock along Marcos Highway over the weekend, Artes attributed the congestion to simultaneous mall sales in areas outside the MMDA’s jurisdiction.

“The incident on Marcos Highway occurred because malls outside our jurisdiction held simultaneous sales. As you may recall, mall-wide sales are prohibited in Metro Manila during peak hours. In Rizal, however, the concurrent sales caused a sudden surge of vehicles, leading to heavy congestion,” he explained.

To prevent a repeat, the MMDA has met with the local governments of Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, Cainta, and Antipolo to craft coordinated traffic mitigation measures. Artes also appealed to mall operators to avoid holding mall-wide sales during peak holiday weeks, emphasizing that individual-store sales remain allowed.

“Individual store sales are fine, but simultaneous, full-mall sales cause traffic jams, discourage shoppers, and ultimately hurt sales,” he said.

The MMDA has also requested a temporary moratorium on Department of Public Works and Highways anti-overloading checkpoints that disrupt road flow.

Artes emphasized the importance of harmonized truck-ban policies among local government units to ease congestion along Marcos Highway.

He added that additional MMDA traffic enforcers will be deployed on Marcos Highway, with LGUs pledging support to ensure motorists follow traffic rules.