Transport workers renewing their public utility vehicles should not worry about paying an additional P169 for computer fees after Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista scrapped such a "miscellaneous" requirement by the Land Transportation Office.

While it was a welcome development, the Leaders of Federated Land Transport Organizations of the Philippines said on Thursday that the order should also apply to motorists renewing vehicles not under the PUV category.

In a press statement, FELTOP officer Jun Rustico Braga lauded Bautista's "responsiveness and attentiveness to the concerns of the public utility transport sector."

"We are pleasantly surprised that the Secretary had granted us an audience to listen to our issues. What makes this more special is that Sec. Bautista had promised immediate action by telling us that he would order the P169 computer fee being collected by the LTO to be stopped as soon as possible," Braga said.

The FELTOP officials earlier met with Bautista in his office to discuss recommendations and resolve issues that were aimed at supporting the transport workers.

The LTO had already removed the P169 computer fee previously when it undertook the computerization of its in-house IT systems and contracted for the establishment of the Land Transportation Management System.