“This reinstatement is temporary in nature, and it will end on June 30, 2009,” she said.
On Sept. 24, 2008, DFS issued a memorandum suspending the program until Dec. 31, 2008 because of the recession.
But the program was not reinstated until April 1.
In reinstating the program, Pierce said the latest taxi rate in 2008 will be applied but there will be no shopping commissions given.
The program is extended to nine hotels on Saipan — Mariana Resort & Spa, Aqua Resort Club Saipan, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Saipan World Resort, Pacific Islands Club, Palms Resort Saipan, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Hafa Adai Beach Hotel and Saipan Grand Hotel.
Rabby Syed, Saipan City Taxi Association president, lauded DFS for reinstating the program.
He is also asking Saipan hotels to avail of the program.
When the program was suspended, taxi drivers operating at hotels could barely get a ticket for transporting hotel guests to Duty Free Shop Galleria.
Under the commission program, taxi drivers will get $2 to $8 from DFS for transporting hotel guests to the shopping center.
Under the reinstated program, Syed said they can no longer get commission but they still get the fare from the passengers, which will be paid by DFS.
Syed said DFS will still deploy its own buses to different hotels but hotel guests can now choose to ride a taxi free of charge.
