MMDA limits weekday mall sales, delivery hours

Shopping malls in Metro Manila will open later and restrict deliveries to overnight hours starting 16 November to help ease expected holiday traffic congestion, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Tuesday.

Under an agreement between the MMDA and shopping mall operators, malls across the National Capital Region will operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays through 25 December.

Additionally, delivery operations at commercial centers will be restricted to an overnight window between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Deliveries of perishable goods, including food items and ice, are exempt from the restriction.

The temporary guidelines aim to curb traffic bottlenecks along major thoroughfares and surrounding commercial districts as shoppers and vehicles surge during the Christmas season.

Under the rules, mall-wide sales will be permitted only on weekends. Individual stores within shopping complexes may hold weekday sales, provided the promotions are not advertised publicly through announcements, commercials or banners.

Mall operators must also submit local traffic management plans to the MMDA at least two weeks prior to hosting major sales or promotional events to allow traffic enforcement personnel to deploy accordingly.

The adjusted operating hours will not apply to restaurants, supermarkets and government service centers operating inside malls, which may maintain their regular business hours.