ILOILO City – With classes set to resume, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 6 pointed out the need for consumers to be wiser as prices of school supplies tend to rise.
It urged parents and students to embrace sustainable consumption by recycling old school supplies that can still be utilized.
During a press conference titled “Balik Eskwela: Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” held on Monday morning, July 15, Grace Benedicto, chief of the Consumer Protection Division at DTI Region 6, cited the practice of recycling unused pages of notebooks using yarn stitching techniques.
“First look at your notebook, if the pages are complete and usable, along with the pencil, then practice sustainable consumption,” Benedicto said.
Benedicto pointed out the need for consumers to be wiser as prices of 28 or 24 percent of the 173 stock-keeping units (SKUs) have increased due to higher costs of raw materials and production.
However, 80 SKUs or 68 percent have remained stable in price, and nine SKUs or eight percent have decreased.
Benedicto also encouraged consumers to compare prices at various retail outlets to ensure their budgets are sufficient.
“School supplies’ prices don’t usually decrease but tend to rise. By canvassing, you can find where the prices are lowest,” Benedicto said.
Rachel Nufable, DTI-6 director, encouraged consumers to purchase school supplies early if the budget allows, to ensure there is ample time to choose quality products.
“If the resources are available and one can go to stores, it’s best to buy early,” Nufable said. However, she acknowledged that some consumers buy during the last days due to budget constraints.
DTI-6 also recommends purchasing school supplies from supermarkets or mall outlets to ensure pricing is within the official guide. Nufable assured that supplies are sufficient even during peak shopping times.
Nufable urged the public to report any significant overpricing to the DTI’s provincial offices or Negosyo Centers in each municipality. If a complaint is validated, it is escalated to the DTI-Regional Office for further investigation. If the price increase is deemed unjustifiable, the case is forwarded to the DTI-Central Office for necessary actions.
Explaining price discrepancies, Nufable mentioned factors like transportation costs that affect prices in remote areas such as Northern Iloilo, where most retailers purchase their products in Iloilo City.
“We strongly encourage parents and the public to use this guide to choose school supplies that meet their needs and fit their budget,” said Nufable./PN
