This Week in Metro Manila (October 13 to 19, 2018)

Metro Manila prepares for the incoming holiday rush.

By: Denisse Shawntel Tan | October 13, 2018

Share this article

facebook

twitter

EDSA is expected to be filled with a heavy volume of traffic during the holiday season.

Image: Yoorekka

In preparation for the problems that could arise as the holiday season nears, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced several traffic updates, changes, and adjustments that will be made along major roads like EDSA. Meanwhile, major malls around the metro are also expected to adjust their operating hours to alleviate the anticipated holiday rush. In other news, Philippine Airlines issued a warning regarding buying fake tickets online.

Weather: Cloudy to rainy weather

The weather this week will range from cloudy to rainy. Thunderstorms are expected to occur during the afternoons starting from Monday to Friday. However, the weather will still be warm around daytime as the temperature is expected to fall between 31 to 33°C [1]. Bringing an umbrella is a must because it is useful against both the sun and rain. Continue to monitor the news for possible changes in the weather.

Traffic news

MMDA prepares for expected heavy traffic during the holiday rush

To prepare for the coming holidays later this year, the MMDA is making plans to ease the expected heavy traffic. One of the planned solutions is the reopening of several bridges closed due to repairs.

Some of the opened bridges are Rockwell Bridge, which the MMDA plans to keep open until January and the Concordia South Bridge in Paco, Manila. Meanwhile, Otis Bridge in Paco, Manila will be re-opened in December.

Another thing that will open in December would be the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Harbour Link from McArthur Highway in Valenzuela City to C3 Road in Caloocan City [2].

Other schemes deemed helpful by the MMDA would be the adjustment of loading and unloading areas, anti-colorum campaigns, and additional security and traffic management personnel. Carpooling among employees is also encouraged [3].

Mall operating hours to be adjusted for the holidays

A heads-up for those who are planning to go Christmas shopping: several malls around EDSA, Marcos Highway, Commonwealth Avenue, and C5-Libis would be adjusting their operating hours again to lessen the traffic congestion during the holidays.

Affected malls would be from SM, Ayala, and Robinsons. The implementation period is from November 5, 2018 to January 14, 2019. The adjustment will have the establishments open at 11:00 AM on weekdays instead of the usual 10:00 AM [4]. The closing time, however, is up to the mall operators. Weekday sales will also be prohibited.

Travel update: Philippine Airlines warns against buying fake tickets online

Getting a cheap deal on tickets online might be tempting, but the Philippine Airlines (PAL) reminds consumers to be wary of possible scams. PAL states that they have discovered a buy-and-sell modus wherein a person would make a bulk purchase of tickets and then resell it in various social media websites at low rates.

The problem with this scam is that fake names were used for the tickets, so the buyer would be asked to purchase additional fake IDs. Giving fake IDs for presentation at airport check-ins are prohibited by law. Those who will be caught will be imprisoned for 1 month or two to six years [5].



References:
[1] https://bit.ly/2NlaaYK
[2] https://bit.ly/2IP4O7q
[3] https://bit.ly/2Nzrd9r
[4] https://bit.ly/2QFxZfQ
[5] https://bit.ly/2Oiqe2O

About Denisse Shawntel Tan

Denisse Tan is currently a work in progress: she’s an aspiring writer, artist, and fashion designer! She’s trying to figure out how to manage her time in achieving all of her goals while also taking in life as humanly possible. Aside from art, she’s a big fan of the color pink, disco music, Bratz dolls, and Genshin Impact. By age 35, she plans to travel to New York City 🗽.

Learn more stories on:

traffic update metro manila EDSA travel

Location Tags:

Manila

Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.