The colorful calesas are back in Dagupan City’s streets with a vengeance after being eased out by the motorized tricycles in the 70s. This time around, they are hailed for tourism purposes, no longer treated as lowly derelicts of the past.

In addition, leisure and recreational horseback-riding was restored in Dagupan last week as an added attraction to tourists and help boost the livelihood of calesa drivers in the city.

The horseback riding facility at the one-hectare vacant land in barangay Tambac beside the Dagupan Medical Centrum, is open from 4:00 p.m. until midnight.

Both were re-launched in cooperation with the Dagupan City Calesa Association formed by City Administrator Alvin Fernandez.

“With the association, we hit many birds with one stone. We helped motivate calesa drivers to commute tourists in their joy ride in Dagupan’s downtown area at night while allowing for horseback riding in the city,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez said the calesas are being restored as an environment-friendly initiative.

Dennis Muyalde, a calesa driver from Barangay Salisay and president of the association, hailed the city government’s plan to bring back as many calesas as there are available.

The calesas used to be the kings of the road in Dagupan from the pre-war to the 70s, until they were replaced by tricycles.

The city government will recommend other improvements to ensure a safer and more comfortable calesa ride for passengers.

The members of the association, currently at 20, will serve at the horseback riding facility when not plying the streets with their calesas.

The association charges P200 for one hour of horseback-riding.— LM

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments