WHILE they may not cause traffic on the busy streets downtown, tartanilla (horse carriage) coachmen are reminded to operate only between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“Dili ra sila maka-cause og traffic kay lima ra man pud sila kabuok (They don’t exactly cause traffic since there are only five of them),” said Francisco Ouano, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations chief.

However, Ouano said his office will impound tartanillas of violators for 30 days and slap them with an administrative fine of P500.

“Dry run pa sad karun (We’re having a dry run), so we will have to assess pa for the next two weeks if di ba gyud sila maka-apekto sa traffic (if their operations will affect traffic),” Ouano said.

The operation of these tartanillas is a project of the City Tourism Office.

Last September, the tourism office, in partnership with the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries and the CCTO, conducted the “Tartanilla sa Sugbo” general assembly.

During the meeting, City Tourism Chief Hearty Marie Rizarri discussed the proposal to let tourists use the “tartanillas” to visit the heritage sites. That way, they can also enjoy the ride.

“For a reasonable amount, they’ll be able to experience the tartanilla ride and tour around Cebu City’s heritage sites for 30 minutes or more. Tartanillas for the tour will be stationed at the Plaza Independencia,” Rizarri said in the tourism office’s Facebook post.

From the Plaza, the tartanillas will take tourists to 12 tourism and heritage sites that include the Magellan’s Cross, the Basilica del Sto. Niño, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cathedral Museum, among others. RTF