MANILA — The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) on Monday protested against the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) ban on mall-wide sales this Christmas season. 

MMDA prohibits mall-wide sales, allows outlet store sales

While the PRA recognizes the traffic problem, especially along EDSA where more than 20 malls are situated, it said measures to address this should not curtail economic activity.

“Ito lang ang biggest shopping period in all of the months of the year na makakabawi ang mga retailers tsaka store owners. Not just the big ones, pati ito yung medium-sized and the small ones,” said PRA President Roberto Claudio in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

“Even government revenues will benefit from this because the more sales, the more VAT payments are made to the government,” he added.

But the MMDA earlier clarified that individual stores are still allowed to hold sales, as long as there are no major promotions about them.

“Pag nag mall-wide sale, talagang grabe yung kini-create na traffic. Pag puno na yung parking tapos nakapila yung mga sasakyan, nagsi-spillover yan sa mga major road… Yun po yung dahilan minsan kung bakit nagkakaroon ng tinatawag nating “carmageddon” kung saan ang atin pong kalsada ay nagiging virtual na parking lot,” said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes in a separate radio interview.

But as Claudio pointed out, that defeats the very purpose of a sale.

“Why go on sale tapos hindi mo sasabihin? Eh 'di wala ring pumunta. Hindi alam ng mga shoppers meron palang sale doon. Parang dineprive mo sila of that benefit that they can buy cheaper goods,” he said.

The group also believes that the policy is anti-competition.

“Pag isang tindahan pinayagan mo, yung isa hindi, then there will be discrimination. They’ll say, sandali, nawawalan kami ng benta, doon lang pumupunta. Under free enterprise, hindi uubra yan. We want the retailers to compete. Pababaan sila ng presyo para mas makinabang ang mga mamimili,” said Claudio.

Instead, the PRA suggests scheduling which malls along EDSA can hold mall-wide sales on a given date and time to spread these out and prevent heavy traffic, especially in areas where there are two or more malls in close proximity.

“Piliin kung sino-sino. Say, kung December 15 to December 18, tatlong mall, nakakalat. December 18 to 21, another three malls. So scheduled siya,” explained Claudio.

The MMDA said the proposal will first need to be studied and discussed with mall owners.

“Siguro pag-uusapan yan. Kailangan munang alam ng mga may-ari ng malls kasi baka magka-silipan pa yan,” said MMDA Director for Traffic Engineering Neomie Recio.

MALLS REACT

In a statement, SM Malls expressed openness to the PRA’s proposal. 

“We are working very closely with the MMDA and the local LGU units to ensure the free flow of vehicular traffic around the vicinity of our malls. We will also be open to discuss any suggestions from the Philippine Retailers Association regarding mall-wide sale activities,” said SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan. 

On the part of Robinsons Galleria, it said it continues to coordinate with the MMDA to ensure smooth traffic flow along all its entry and exit points. 

“Aside from ample parking spaces for our customers within the mall premises, additional security personnel are deployed to facilitate more convenient access for pedestrians and vehicles going in and out of the mall,” it said. 

The prohibition on mall-wide sales comes as the MMDA expects the daily volume of vehicles along EDSA to increase to 480,000 this holiday season— which is nearly double the 250,000 carrying capacity of the major thoroughfare.

EDSA Overload: 464,000 vehicles plying EDSA daily

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