MMDA working with mall owners, utility firms to manage holiday traffic

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) — The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it is coordinating with mall owners and service concessionaires to keep traffic manageable during the Christmas holidays.

"On the part of the MMDA, yung sinabi pong meeting with the mall operators regarding sana po yung mga sales sa weekend, at kung may sale dapat sila magbigay ng traffic management plan two weeks before para makatulong kami sa daloy ng trapiko," MMDA Spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said at the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday.

[Translation: On the part of the MMDA, the issue of having sales only on weekends was discussed with mall operators, and they have to present a traffic management plan two weeks prior so we can help with the flow of traffic.]

Carunungan added discussions on roadwork are also ongoing.

"Nagpupulong na po [We are meeting] with the different concessionaires such as Meralco, Maynilad, Manila Water regarding a moratorium on road diggings and excavations from November 14 to the first week of January," she said.

The MMDA added plans are in place too for Undas or the All Saints Day holiday especially since President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. also declared Oct. 31 a special non-working holiday.

Carunungan said traffic enforcers and rescue personnel will be deployed to terminals and cemeteries in case of emergencies. Traffic personnel will also follow a "no absent, no day-off" policy.