THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday asked major shopping malls in Metro Manila to adjust their operating hours to lessen traffic brought by the holiday crush

MMDA Chairman Romando S. Artes said the “holiday rush” is already being felt in the capital region with 421,000 vehicles traversing Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) daily, as of Sept. 24.

“Most probably [the numbers will go up]. Normally we reach half a million as the Christmas season approaches. We expect before Undas, the traffic would be heavier and after Undas, it would rise steadily until Christmas time,” Mr. Artes said in mixed English and Filipino.

Adjusting mall hours could lessen traffic congestion as past practice showed, he added, but it does not entirely erase traffic. MMDA will talk with the Department of Transportation to adjust EDSA Carousel bus hours and the railway systems.

Major malls said they will post adjusted mall hours on their respective social media pages. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana