The latest “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” took effect on July 25. This issuance is consistent with Republic Act (RA) 7581 or the Price Act, as amended by RA 10623, which included school supplies as among the prime commodities. With this, all business establishments selling school supplies are called to comply with the SRP to avoid fines and penalties in accordance with the existing rules and regulations.
For this year’s issuance, notebooks, pad papers, and pencils have increased by Php3 to Php15 compared with the previous SRP. However, the retail price of pencils in packed in 3s has either been maintained or increased minimally. Meanwhile, prices of ballpoint pens, crayons, sharpeners, and rulers have remained the same. Overall, the department noted just slight price increases which can be attributed to the escalating cost of raw and packaging materials, inflation, and other economic factors affecting price movements, especially of imported goods.
DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi shared that the SRP varies according to the brands, which gives consumers several choices based on their budget or what they can afford.
The regional trade chief also reminded consumers to shop early to avoid the rush and heavy crowd traffic. She added that a shopping list can help ensure that no school requirement will be missed while shopping at a faster speed.
In the meantime, Ambi emphasized the need to check the prices and compare such with the SRP o get the best value for money.
For the agency’s part, she assured the public that the DTI is closely monitoring the prices and status of office supplies across the region, especially during this school opening period of the year.
“We have to ensure that no business establishment will violate the SRP. This is part of our commitment to continuously protect and promote the welfare of consumers,” she said.
DTI 11 conducts weekly price monitoring on different establishments to check their fair trade laws compliance.
For clarifications and concerns, consumers may visit any DTI office near them. In Davao City, they may visit the office at the Mintrade Building, corner Sales-Monteverde Streets, or call (082) 224-0511. A copy of the said SRP can be accessed from the DTI official website: dti.gov.ph. Consumers may also reach out to the Facebook page DTI Region 11. (PR/DTI)