Metro Manila malls to open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting Nov. 16: MMDA

Heads up, shoppers and motorists! Shopping malls in Metro Manila will adjust their operating hours starting Nov. 16, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said.

To ease traffic congestion during the holiday season, the MMDA and various mall operators, including Ayala Malls, SM Malls, Ortigas Land, Robinsons Land, Araneta City, The Podium, and Lucky Chinatown, have signed an agreement that will allow shopping malls to operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting Nov. 16 until Dec. 25, except on weekends and holidays.

This measure is part of the MMDA's traffic management plan to ensure smoother traffic flow and prevent heavy congestion around major shopping malls during the holiday rush.

Delivery operations will also be limited to 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for deliveries of perishable goods such as food and ice.

Mall-wide sales will only be limited to weekends, but individual shops inside the malls may hold their own sales during weekdays as long as "no announcements, advertisements, or tarpaulins are made for them."

Meanwhile, restaurants, supermarkets, and government service offices inside the properties are exempted from the adjusted operating hours and may continue following their regular business schedules.

Cinemas will be allowed to open earlier on Dec. 25 to accommodate the expected increase in moviegoers during Christmas Day.