Back in the 18th century, before the World War II, the Tartanilla, a horse-drawn carriage driven by kutseros was known as the king of the road. During those years Spanish nobles and rich Filipinos called Ilustrados used the Tartanilla as a mode of transportation.
History
"Companias de los Tranias de Filipinas," a joint corporation of Spaniards and Filipinos aimed at producing a mass industry of Tartanillas as means of transportation. It was made of light construction material, having a capacity of ten passengers and drawn by four horses. The Tartanilla is as mentioned, exclusive for the elite. But because of the creation of the Companias, eight thousand Tartanillas were released in Calle Nueva, Bacolod on December 26, 1885 thus forming a company that shared ownership of the Spanish businessmen and prominent Filipino.
After the Second World War
In Cebu, the number of units were increasing from over 1,500 in the 50s to 2,500 in the 60s. Similar to the present-day taxi, the Tartanilla did not follow a route. It will take you to any destination based on these rates in the year 1945 (Cebu):
- P0.10 per capita within city limits
- P0.10 per capita plus P0.5 per additional kilometer beyond city limits
- P0.60 for the first 30 minutes or less. Over 30 minutes but not over 1 hour, P1.00 and for every additional hour, P0.75
Anti-horse manure ordinance
In 1958, horse manure was a very grave pollution at that time. The Cebu City Council estimated about 5,000 kilos of manure being scattered around the city daily. When dried and pulverized, it was blown about and mixed with the air they breathe. And so, the Cebu City Council responded with a anti-horse manure ordinance which states that all rigs must carry a receptacle for the manure and the kutsero must stop the rig and pick up the manure discharged by the horse. So far, no restriction which limited the Tartanilla operations due to the environmental and health risks influenced by horse manure was made possible.
City Council decline Tartanilla as transportation
In the 1950s, when the rig transport was an upswing, the City Council astonishingly put a stop the momentum of growth. The reasons cited by the City Councilors for their want to limit, if not eliminate, the rigs were:
- horses are hard to control at certain times
- horses become restless when uncontrollable
- hazard to traffic and health
- an alternate source of waste
- bad image to tourists
Ancient Tartanillas
Present-Day Tartanillas
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Mamang Kutsero
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