ON Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) issued an edict banning 'mall-wide sales' in the National Capital Region during the holiday season. The directive also prohibited individual stores from promoting sales. These new rules follow the MMDA's imposition on Nov. 18 of restricted opening times for malls during the holiday season, requiring them to open at 11 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. (or, in some cases, 9 a.m.) as is customary. In addition, the MMDA also said malls would be required to observe restricted delivery times, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., except for perishable goods.

These rules, which are characterized by the MMDA as measures to control holiday season traffic congestion, are a gross overreach of the MMDA's authority, and the agency should be compelled to rescind them by whatever action is appropriate — likely an executive order from the president — if it does not see reason on its own and lift them. Not only have regulations such as these proven to be wholly ineffective, but they are also an unjustified restraint of trade against mall businesses.