MANILA, Philippines – Prices of school supplies and essentials remain “stable and accessible” as shoppers flock to popular areas selling such items and as the new school year approaches, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
According to DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque, who chairs the National Price Coordinating Council, every Filipino child deserves the chance to learn without parents worrying about whether they can afford the basics in school supplies.
“Under President Marcos' leadership, Bagong Pilipinas means school supplies within reach, a fairer start for every child, and greater peace of mind for parents,” Roque added.
Earlier, Roque joined an inspection in Baclaran, Paranaque City, which covered four (4) vendors and one major retail store.
According to the DTI, the team “verified the prices and availability of essential items such as notebooks, pad papers, pencils, ballpens, and crayons.”
This followed a similar monitoring activity in Divisoria last week, as part of the DTI’s nationwide effort to monitor back-to-school supplies in line with the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” price guide, DTI mentioned.
Secretary Roque was joined by Fair Trade Group (FTG) Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero and Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Director Regino Mallari Jr., along with a representative from the Parañaque Consumer Welfare Office, DTI added.
“Our school supply sellers and retailers have shown a commendable compliance with the DTI’s price guide. This goes to show the positive and effective impact of our constant discussions with them to prioritize consumer interest,” FTG Assistant Secretary Uvero said.
Meanwhile, FTEB Director Mallari underscored DTI’s mandate to “closely monitor consumer goods”- including seasonal items – to ensure that Filipinos always have access to fairly priced essentials.
“This is how we protect consumer welfare, especially during peak demand periods,” Mallari added.
The DTI mentioned that FTEB has conducted 79 school supplies price monitoring activities in various Metro Manila outlets so far this year.
While the “Gabay sa Pamimili” price guide serves as a reference, the DTI warned that any detected overpricing or violations will be met with the appropriate sanctions or issuances.
Secretary Roque also issued a reminder to the public of the importance of making wise and informed decisions ahead of the back-to-school season.
The DTI encourages consumers to report pricing violators by calling the DTI Hotline at 1-DTI (1-384) or by sending an email to [email protected] or [email protected].
