The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has rolled out a series of measures to address the anticipated surge in traffic across Metro Manila during the Christmas season.

MMDA chairperson Romando Artes warned at a Palace press briefing that the volume of vehicles on major thoroughfares, particularly EDSA, has already surpassed the road’s capacity.

“The volume of vehicles is simply excessive,” Artes said on Wednesday. “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.”

To manage the heavy traffic, Artes said the MMDA has intensified clearing operations along Mabuhay Lanes, which are designated alternate routes for motorists to bypass congested main roads.

In coordination with the Department of Transportation, the MMDA has also extended the operating hours for the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit systems, along with other public transport, to encourage commuters to leave private vehicles at home.

Artes urged the public to use the EDSA Bus Carousel and the rail systems.

He also addressed the recent traffic gridlock along Marcos Highway over the weekend, attributing the congestion to simultaneous mall sales in areas outside the MMDA’s direct jurisdiction.

“The incident on Marcos Highway occurred because malls outside our jurisdiction held simultaneous sales,” he said. “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.”

To prevent a recurrence, the MMDA has met with local governments of Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, Cainta and Antipolo to develop coordinated traffic mitigation measures.

Artes appealed to mall operators to avoid holding mall-wide sales during the peak holiday weeks, though individual store sales are still permitted.

“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, which Artes said disrupt road flow.

He stressed the importance of harmonized truck ban policies among local government units to ease congestion along Marcos Highway. Additional MMDA traffic enforcers will be deployed along Marcos Highway, with local governments pledging support to ensure motorists follow traffic rules.