Manila – The Manila City government is gearing up for the Christmas season with enhanced security and additional parking spaces to accommodate shoppers. Mayor Honey Lacuna, in a press briefing on Thursday, directed the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) and the Manila Police District (MPD) to ensure smooth traffic flow as people flock to the city for holiday shopping. Lacuna’s instructions aim to ensure a safe Christmas celebration for both residents and visitors to Manila’s popular shopping districts, such as Quiapo, Avenida, and Divisoria.

According to Philippines News Agency, the city will implement heightened security measures across markets and shopping malls, with a PHP50 parking fee for customers.

Lacuna also announced the city-wide distribution of Christmas gift baskets to 695,000 households starting Friday. The distribution process, scheduled to run until December 12, will cover four districts per day, with two rounds in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each gift box includes Noche Buena essentials and 3 kg of rice. Additionally, the mayor revealed plans for the payout of financial assistance for September to December to senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disability (PWDs) in early December. A Grand Bazaar at Mehan Garden and anticipated Masses at the Kartilya ng Katipunan are also part of the city’s festive season preparations.