Prices of school supplies to stay stable, says DTI

MANILA, Philippines–Manufacturers and retailers have assured consumers that the prices of school supplies will remain stable as the opening of the new school year draws near.

In a statement issued Monday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said this was discussed in a meeting last week with manufacturers and traders in school supplies.

“The DTI has maintained open communication with the industry of school supplies and we continuously discuss their price and supply situation to level the playing field among them and to guarantee their cooperation in promoting consumer welfare,” Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said.

“In the meeting, the Philippine School Pad and Notebook Manufacturers Association Inc., National Bookstore, Bridges Bookstore (formerly Goodwill Bookstore) and Morayta Bookstore (formerly Merriam and Webster Bookstore) declared that their prices were the same this year compared to three years ago and they were not increasing the prices of their products,” Dimagiba said.

The DTI, through its Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB), asks the industry members the suggested retail prices (SRPs) of school and office supplies yearly. The CPAB validates the SRPs against the cost of production, particularly of raw materials.

Once the SRPs are acceptable, the DTI publishes the list of products with the brands and SRPs that will be the reference price guide for distributors and retailers.

Among the school supplies that are on the DTI list of basic and prime goods and are frequently undergoing price and supply monitoring are crayons, notebooks (composition, writing and spiral), pad paper (grades 1-4, intermediate), ballpoint pens and pencils.–Amy R. Remo