11/21/2014, MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and major mall operators have agreed to an “open late, close late” scheme to ease traffic during the Christmas season.

Malls will now be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The new schedule will take effect from November 28, 2014 to January 3, 2015.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the adjusted mall hours will reduce the number of motorists on major thoroughfares, particularly EDSA, during rush hours in the morning and in the evening.

“We came out with a scheme wherein the rush hour daytime will not overlap with the openings of malls. So it’s ‘open late, close late.’ Rush hour in the evening will likewise not overlap with the mall exit hours,” he told ANC on Friday.

Tolentino admits that the scheme “is not an outright solution” to the congested roads of Metro Manila, but he believes it will cut down a huge volume of vehicles contributing to the congestion.

Tolentino said all major mall operators have agreed to the scheme.

Among the malls located along EDSA include SM Makati, Metropoint Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, Trinoma Mall, WalterMart, Eton Centris, Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall, Starmall, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza and Robinsons Pioneer.

MMDA also identified specific dates wherein heavy traffic are expected: November 28 (Christmas bonus distribution); November 30; December 19 (last Friday before Christmas); and December 23.