This Week in Metro Manila (November 07 to 13, 2016)

Starting November 1, 2016 and to last until January 9, 2017, shopping malls in Metro Manila adjust their operating hours so Christmas shoppers can avoid rush hours on the road. The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (i-ACT) imposed mall operating hours to be changed. From the usual 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM operating hours, the holiday mall hours would be 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Some malls have already posted their new schedules on their social media sites with some indicating their operating hours during Christmas Day itself and for the New Year’s Eve and New Year.

Furthermore, mall deliveries will be only from 11:00 PM to 5 AM also during the said period, except for deliveries of perishable items which are exempted from this scheme.

Due to the postponement of barangay elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) decided to use the opportunity to instead resume voter’s registration and distribution of unclaimed voter’s identification cards.

The registration of voters and claiming of voter’s ID will be conducted in designated satellite barangays from November 7 to April 29, 2017. IDs should be claimed personally by the owner or through an authorized representative where they originally registered.

The barangay elections are set to happen on October 23, 2017.

This week the sun will shine all throughout the metro in the mornings. High level of humidity is to be expected, thus wearing breathable clothes is advised. There are still possibilities of few showers, so it is best to bring an umbrella to serve as protection from the rain and the sunlight. Evenings will mostly be clear all throughout the week.

Every November 7, the National Food Fortification Day is observed in the country pursuant to Executive Order 382. The law recognizes the problem brought by micronutrient deficiency that has affected most of our population.

The Department of Health counters this problem by implementing and monitoring The Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 (Republic Act 8976). The law requires the addition of nutrients to processed foods or food products widely consumed by at-risk groups, or those more likely to get a disease such as children, at levels above than what the food product should naturally contain.

Today, consumers are reminded to choose products that bear the Sangkap Pinoy Seal which gives assurance that the product has complied with the food fortification act and has undergone good manufacturing procedures.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) warns the public against the use of 10 cosmetic products that have failed to register to the agency.

These products are Dane Papaya Extract Soap Super Active Skin Whitener, Verdon Shine Keratin Hair Spa Milk Essence, A Bonne Milk Powder Lightening Lotion Plus Collagen, Hanzhixiu Colour Cream (E-15 Grape Red), Hanzhixiu Permanent Hair Colorant (A-18 Golden Red), Professional Skin Care Formula Collagen with Elastin Cream, Asudjor Extra Whitening Armpit Cream and Deodorant, Malunggay Facial Toner, Malunggay Peel-Off Mask and Placenta Original Soap.

Failure to register to the FDA not only violates the law but also puts the health of the user of such products at risk due to unidentified substances that such cosmetic items might contain.

Read: Tried-and-Tested Home Remedies for Smooth, Flawless Skin

As the Christmas season gets closer, travelers may experience more traffic congestions particularly in EDSA road. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is finding more ways to prepare for the traffic that comes with it. One proposal mentioned by MMDA General Tim Orbos in a TV interview last week is clearing the roads of illegally parked cars. In particular, during peak hours, no car can be parked on the streets. Another is the one-side parking lane.

The agency has already implemented several schemes to prepare for the traffic of the upcoming season such as the No-Weekday Mall Sale and No-Window Hour Coding Scheme from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

The public is thereby advised to always anticipate heavy traffic flow and have enough lead time to avoid missing travel schedules and other appointments. Traffic gridlock normally happens during 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM and 5:00 PM onwards when commuters are heading to or from work and school.