Manila (24 November) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and officials of Ortigas Center and Ayala Center is all set for traffic come the Christmas rush.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino recently met with officials of the Ortigas Center Association, Inc. (OCAI) and Ayala Properties, together with representatives from SM Megamall and Robinson’s Galeria and organized measures that will ease traffic along EDSA this Christmas season.

Tolentino said traffic is everybody’s concern and be dealt in a holistic manner rather than limiting the concerns in one area of jurisdiction only.

Officials from the Makati Parking Authority and traffic officials from Pasig City government also joined in the meeting.

The MMDA chairman cited that SM Megamall and Robinson’s Galeria both located at Ortigas Center attract a huge number of shoppers. Tolentino also appealed to SM Megamall to inform the MMDA at least two weeks before holding shopping sale promos that not only attract shoppers but causes terrible vehicular traffic as well.

Chairman Tolentino also discussed with the Ayala and MAPA representatives the traffic bottleneck along EDSA-Ayala Avenue intersection, saying that traffic lights along the stretch of Ayala should be synchronized to allow a faster flow of traffic into the Makati Central Business District during morning rush hour.

Based on MMDA Traffic Engineering Center statistics, around 1,800 vehicles enter Ayala Avenue from EDSA southbound every hour during the morning rush while 1,309 come from Magallanes.

The MMDA chairman also discussed with OCAI a plan to cut out a loading and unloading point at Onyx Avenue in Ortigas to accommodate vehicles to unload passengers along Meralco Avenue near the end of the Meralco flyover.

Tolentino tasked newly appointed MMDA Undersecretary Alex Cabanilla to oversee the strict implementation of these measures.