THE number of licensed taxicab units plying the streets of Saipan increased by 14 percent in 2002, but this figure remains far below the previous years’ levels.
Taxicab owners say they are also threatened by high insurance premiums and “unfair competition” from unlicensed taxicab operators.
Latest data from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Taxicabs showed that 206 taxicab units renewed licenses for 2002.
Frank R. Taimanao, the bureau’s enforcement and compliance officer, said this marked a 14 percent increase from the 2001’s record-low level of 180 units.
However, the 2001 and 2002 figures are less than the previous years’ figures. In 1997, there were 290 taxicab units licensed. In 1998, 300; and in 2000, 239.
The 1999 figure was unavailable as of press time yesterday.
Taxi operators blame the Asian economic crisis and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for the declining figures.
A taxicab operator, who requested anonymity, said the economic downturn was aggravated by the increase in the number of unlicensed taxicab units operating on Saipan.
“These taxicabs are hurting our legitimate business. They are able to get foreign visitors and alien workers, even though they are not licensed to operate. We hope the Bureau of Taxicab would help us,” he said.
Taimanao said the bureau is addressing the licensed taxicab operators’ concerns.
“We are aware of their problems and we have been trying to solve it. We send out bureau guys periodically to monitor any illegal taxicabs, but unfortunately, we haven’t caught anybody,” Taimanao said.
However, he said the bureau had found flyers written in Chinese, offering rides to garment workers.
“We will continue to monitor,” Taimanao said.
The current number of licensed taxicab operators is also less than the levels of previous years.
In 1997, there were 303 licensed operators. In 1998, 255; and in 2000, 185.
There were 196 licensed operators in 2001, and 194 in 2002.
