MANILA, Philippines – Starting November 11, 2019 until January 10, 2020, all malls in Metro Manila will open at 11AM and will close at a later hour than their usual schedule. During the same period, mall sales will also be prohibited from Mondays to Fridays!
This adjustment in the mall operating schedules has been agreed upon by all shopping mall operators, following the request of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to help solve the heavy traffic situation that everyone has come to expect during the Christmas season.
The new opening schedule will be implemented in all malls across Metro Manila; though they do have the option to open early during weekends, clarified MMDA GM Jojo Garcia. Mall sales will also be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
The MMDA clarified that a mall is exempted from the weekday mall sale ban because it already publicly announced a sale on November 15.
The announcement was met with different reactions on social media. While there were those who slammed the changes in schedule because it would affect the jobs of those working in malls, others pointed out that this has long been the practice during the holiday season.
“Ako mas ok nga late mag open and late din ang closing, you don't have to rush going to the grocery at sumabay sa rush hour,” one netizen commented.
Others said the ‘later’ opening hour would actually be beneficial to most malls.
“Konti lang ang tao sa 1st hour ng operation ng malls. So by 11 am dun lang kadalasan dumadami ang mga tao usually to eat lunch. Ang shopping and gala ay every weekend naman. They will not lose anything, if anything else makakatipid pa sila dahil sa 1st hour konti lang mga tao, pag 11 marami ng tao so sulit yung utility bills nila,” one netizen pointed out.
Others were dismayed that malls sales were not allowed as they wanted to save money during these sale events, but later changed their mind upon learning that mall sales are still allowed during weekends.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
This adjustment in the mall operating schedules has been agreed upon by all shopping mall operators, following the request of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to help solve the heavy traffic situation that everyone has come to expect during the Christmas season.
The new opening schedule will be implemented in all malls across Metro Manila; though they do have the option to open early during weekends, clarified MMDA GM Jojo Garcia. Mall sales will also be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
The MMDA clarified that a mall is exempted from the weekday mall sale ban because it already publicly announced a sale on November 15.
The announcement was met with different reactions on social media. While there were those who slammed the changes in schedule because it would affect the jobs of those working in malls, others pointed out that this has long been the practice during the holiday season.
“Ako mas ok nga late mag open and late din ang closing, you don't have to rush going to the grocery at sumabay sa rush hour,” one netizen commented.
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| Photo credit: alveo land [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
Others said the ‘later’ opening hour would actually be beneficial to most malls.
“Konti lang ang tao sa 1st hour ng operation ng malls. So by 11 am dun lang kadalasan dumadami ang mga tao usually to eat lunch. Ang shopping and gala ay every weekend naman. They will not lose anything, if anything else makakatipid pa sila dahil sa 1st hour konti lang mga tao, pag 11 marami ng tao so sulit yung utility bills nila,” one netizen pointed out.
Others were dismayed that malls sales were not allowed as they wanted to save money during these sale events, but later changed their mind upon learning that mall sales are still allowed during weekends.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
