The former mayor of Valencia, Bohol has tackled about extended waiting times and alleged preferential treatment at the Port of Tagbilaran, prompting calls for improved port clearing procedures.

Maria Katrina Lim-Caña, in a letter to The Bohol Tribune, detailed a two-hour delay she and her husband experienced while attempting to clear cargo shipped from Cebu.

“Time is valuable, and such delays greatly inconvenience port users who are simply trying to comply with existing procedures,” Lim-Caña wrote in her Dec. 18 letter to the newspaper’s managing editor, Ardy Araneta-Batoy. 

The incident occurred on Dec. 17, 2025 at approximately 2 p.m., when the couple arrived at the port facility to claim items shipped via Lite Shipping. 

After complying with safety requirements and securing necessary documentation, they were directed to the Port Integrated Clearing Office to pay port charges.

According to Lim-Caña’s account, personnel at the clearing window explained that Ocean Jet shipments were being processed ahead of Lite Shipping cargo. 

Another client reportedly informed her that the computer system had gone offline during the delay.

“The personnel at the window explained that they were strictly following the queue numbers displayed on their monitor and that shipments from Ocean Jet were being prioritized over those from Lite Shipping,” Lim-Caña said.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) manages the Port of Tagbilaran, with Globalport handling daily port operations. 

Neither agency had issued a statement regarding the complaint as of press time.

Lim-Caña said that while technical difficulties and high transaction volumes are understandable, the lack of clear communication during the delay compounded the frustration.

“I am hopeful that by bringing this matter to light, Globalport and PPA Tagbilaran will review and improve their clearing and queueing systems to ensure fairness, efficiency, and better service for all stakeholders — regardless of the shipping line used,” she wrote.

The complaint has uncovered overdue issues about processing protocols at one of Bohol’s main maritime gateways, particularly regarding equitable service delivery across different shipping lines.

PHOTO FROM: INTERNET