The kalesa, or horse-drawn carriage is part of Intramuros, an influence at the time of the Spanish era, eventually becoming part of the Filipino cultural heritage. This is great because foreigners get a taste of the Filipino culture, and get to go to different popular historical sites riding in the kalesa. However, this is different for the horses. The sad reality is that kalesa horses live miserable lives. They are forced to carry more passengers than what is stated in the DOT rules and regulations, and are forced to overwork on most days. Kalesas are often parked at the side of the road only, and the carriage itself is still attached to the horse. Cocheros leave the kalesa by the sidewalk under the sun, and the carriage isn’t even detached from the horse when they are “resting”.

Kalesa horses don't deserve to be mistreated. It would be great if the horses are taken better care of in order to prevent deaths due to exhaustion. Riding in a kalesa is also a known tradition when touring in Intramuros, and taking care of the horses would also help preserve the tradition. We would like the Intramuros Administration to provide better care and treatment towards the kalesa horses. The actions to be be taken are the following:

· Strictly enforce the Department of Tourism Rules & Regulations on Accreditation of Kalesa horses stating that the maximum number of passengers per kalesa should only be 2 people excluding the coachman;

·  Give kalesa horses rest periods that last for at least 1 or more hours;

·  Provide assigned resting spots for horses;

· Place drinking troughs for horses located near the aforementioned resting places; and

· Remove the kalesa from the horse and any other contraption that restricts the horses’ movement during breaks.