BY GLORIA LEODIVICA INES ARANETA
A Passenger Assistance Desk was formally opened by the Tagbilaran City Government at the Tagbilaran Seaport on October 31, 2026.
The desk is intended to help arriving tourists and returning residents get accurate fare information and orderly access to local transportation.
Mayor Jane Yap headed the inauguration ceremony.
She was accompanied by City Councilor Merick Blanco, City Tourism Officer Joseph Alexis Cadeliña, City General Services Office Head Dr. Chris John Rener Torralba, and Global Port Bohol General Manager Kenneth Soldevilla.
It was launched before November 1 in anticipation of the influx of visitors and Boholanos returning home.
City Tourism Office personnel will be assigned to man the desk.
Passengers can consult the displayed fare guides to check the rates for tricycles, taxis, vans, and other transport services.
The guides aim to prevent excessive charges and inconsistent fare negotiations.
An organized passenger dispatch system covering four designated transport services was also introduced under the initiative.
Passengers will be issued a dispatch slip bearing their destination, approved fare, driver’s name and identification number, vehicle plate number, and dispatch time.
Drivers are required to observe a first-in, first-out queuing system and to use the designated pick-up areas.
Mayor Yap thanked GlobalPort, the Philippine Ports Authority, and private-sector partners for helping establish the facility.
No funds from the City Government were spent for its implementation.
The assistance desk is part of the city’s broader Tourism Development Plan.
Also included in the plan are a Fare Calculator App and the Tagbilaran City Tourism Website.
These initiatives are meant to make travel information easier to access, improve services for visitors, and strengthen Tagbilaran’s position as a gateway to Bohol.