MANILAbetlead, Philippines —  To ease traffic congestion during the Christmas season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has prohibited the holding of mall-wide sales in the National Capital Region.

MMDA Task Force Special Operations chief Gabriel Go said that while stores can hold sales, these must be conducted without large-scale promotions.

“Outlet sales in the malls are allowed as long as there are no announcements,” Go said.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy by the MMDA to manage traffic flow during the holiday season.

Metro Manila malls began implementing adjusted operating hours on Nov. 18 to alleviate monstrous traffic jams.

“We trust your office will prioritize this matter and act swiftly to protect the integrity of our nation’s legal and economic systems,” the lawmakers said in a statement.

Shopping malls now open at 11 a.m., an hour later than usual, and will maintain this schedule until Dec. 25.

According to MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, the malls’ closing time remains at the discretion of mall operators, noting that the new hours were agreed upon in coordination with their representatives.

Artes said the MMDA implemented measures to prevent major roads from becoming “massive parking lots” during the Christmas season.

Among these measures is a restricted delivery schedule for mall goods, with deliveries permitted only between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Deliveries of perishable items are exempt from the restriction.betlead