Parents crowd Divisoria to buy school supplies

With just one month to go before the opening of classes, parents have started crowding the Divisoria district in Manila to buy school supplies at bargain prices. A report on dzBB radio Sunday said malls and outlets in the Divisoria and Binondo districts reported brisk sales of items such as uniforms, bags and pencils. The situation prompted the Manila Police District (MPD) to deploy added personnel to the areas to protect shoppers from snatchers and muggers. MPD head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay appealed to parents to remain vigilant against members of the "Salisi" gang (a group of pickpockets and snatchers). School Year 2010-2011 for elementary and high school is scheduled to start on June 14, according to the Department of Education (DepEd). The dzBB report said bags in Divisoria sell for P320, while notebooks sell for as low as P10. Half-dozen pencils sell for P15 while prices of uniforms and blouses range from P60 to P130. Short pants sell for P50 a pair while long pants sell for about P160 a pair. Mall owners said they expect to tighten security in their premises and order more supplies in the coming weeks. --LBG, GMANews.TV