EDITORIAL - Tartanillas

To boost tourism and promote cultural heritage, the Cebu City government recently launched the “Tartanilla sa Sugbo,” a program that would put back tartanillas on the streets in the downtown area.

Under the program, launched by Cebu City Tourism Office last December 19 at Fort San Pedro, tartanillas will ply the streets leading to Plaza Independencia and Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, and to heritage sites and museums in the downtown area. They will cater to foreign tourists as well as the locals for a minimum fare of P50.

"Tartanilla is one of those features that give downtown Cebu City a unique identity," said City Tourism Officer Hearty Marie Rizzari. "Over the decades, the demands of the fast changing times turned the tartanilla into an outmoded transportation and discounted the prestige it once boasted, however it is definitely remarkable how it continues to be a public transportation until today."

Yes, the program is a good idea in the campaign to revitalize the city’s tourism amid the rising number of foreign and domestic visitors, especially now that the city is preparing for the annual Fiesta Señor celebrations next month.

With tartanillas now being allowed to crisscross the downtown area, beyond their usual territory in Duljo-Fatima and neighboring areas, the program is an opportune time for kutseros or coachmen to augment their income.

It cannot be denied that tartanillas and kutseros are now being pushed to the brink of extinction since commuters nowadays prefer the modern mode of transportation like the public utility jeepneys and habal-habals for convenience and fast travel.

But the city government, especially the city traffic management office, should see to it that the operation of tartanillas does not aggravate the traffic condition in the downtown, especially during rush hours.

The presence of tartanillas in the downtown is meant to promote tourism and preserve the Cebuano heritage. And local authorities should see to it that it will not contribute to the already worsening traffic problem.