WITHOUT a direct flight service to nearby Guam, residents of Rota will have to fly first to Saipan. And from Guam, they will have to travel through Saipan again to return to Rota.
According to Pete Dela Cruz, the president of Rota Merchandizing Corp., the layover on Saipan is an additional financial burden for Guam-bound Rota residents, especially medical referral patients.
Now that more direct flights are added to the schedule, thanks to Star Marianas Air, Dela Cruz said a lot of passengers from Rota will save money.
“This is a very good move on the part of Star Marianas, and we hope that this will continue,” Dela Cruz said in an interview.
Rota Sen. Paul A. Manglona is also thankful to Star Marianas for its direct Rota-Guam flights which, he added, provides Rota residents “greater opportunity for medical care, education, and access to affordable commodities.”
“Our people have waited patiently for the resumption of these scheduled flights as chartering flights are very costly during these times of financial hardship,” the senator said.
Last month, Senator Manglona and Rep. Donald Manglona said they would tap their office funds to pay for the presence of a Customs and Border Protection officer at the Benjamin Taisakan Manglona International Airport on Rota at least for one month to clear departing passengers to Guam.
The absence of a CBP officer at Rota airport had hampered Star Marianas operations because each time there was a flight to Guam, the airline company would have to fly a CBP officer from Saipan.
