FILE PHOTO: Notebooks
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to release a list of suggested retail prices (SRPs) on school supplies next month to serve as guide to consumers prior to the opening of classes in June.
DTI advises consumers to shop early to avoid the sudden increase in prices of basic school supplies.
“Mamili na sila ng school supplies habang maaga pa at tsaka wag silang mag-alala nakabantay ang DTI sa lahat ng concerns ng mamimili,” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said.
(They should buy school supplies while it’s still early. Do not worry, DTI is monitoring concerns of consumers.)
It has been observed that prices of ordinary school supplies have already marked up months before classes begin. Some vendors in Nepa Q-Mart are actually planning to increase their prices.
“Lahat po halos tumaas eh, simula po sa notebook tapos sa mga pad,” school supply retailer Rose Bolaong said.
(Almost everything went up, from notebooks to pad papers.)
Meanwhile, DTI has demanded explanation from paper manufacturers for unauthorized increase in prices.
The manufacturers argued that the price of raw materials in the global market has increased; inevitably affecting the price of paper products. They promised DTI not to add to their prices this year.
“Ang increase na nagawa na nila ito na yun, wala nang karagdagang increase. This school year nag-commit na sila. Ito na iyon, for June,” Castelo said.
(This is the increase that they have made; no more additional increases. They have committed this school year. This is it for June.)
DTI is set to meet with large-scale school supply retailers to hear their side on the issue. — UNTV News & Rescue
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