After Marcos Highway gridlock, MMDA wants fewer mall-wide sales

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

December 10, 2025 | 5:17pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday, December 10, appealed to shopping mall owners not to hold mall-wide sales during the holiday season, saying they result in gridlocks.

On December 6, motorists traveling through Marcos Highway — which connects Cainta, Antipolo, Marikina, Pasig and surrounding areas — were caught in severe traffic jam, with some commuters choosing to walk for long stretches rather than remain stuck on the road.

MMDA Chair Don Artes said the congestion was aggravated by simultaneous sales in shopping centers in Rizal province.

“Kinausap din po natin ‘yong mga LGUs regarding mall-wide sale. Dapat po siguro ipagbawal din muna po dahil… pagkasara po ng mall, sabay-sabay po naglabasan na talaga naman pong naging dahilan ng sobrang bigat ng daloy ng trapik,” Artes said during a Wednesday briefing. 

(We have been talking to LGUs about mall-wide sales. Maybe these should be stopped for now because when the mall closes, everyone goes out at the same time, and that becomes a major cause of heavy traffic.)

Not blaming mall owners, says MMDA

When asked why the responsibility seemed placed on malls, Artes insisted he was not blaming owners and that the government does not intend to ban discounts or store-level promotions.

The appeal, he said, is simply to avoid having all malls hold simultaneous sales.

He added that mall operators themselves stand to lose when traffic becomes unmanageable, as this discourages shoppers from coming in.

Following the gridlock, the Department of Public Works and Highways temporarily suspended its Anti-Truck Overloading Mobile Enforcement (ATOME) operations along the corridor to help ease the flow of vehicles.