DTI assures no price hike in school supplies

Good news for parents: There will be no price hikes in school supplies, at least for the first semester of the coming School Year 2010-2011. Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said that except for makers of notebooks who plan to do so in the second semester, manufacturers do not expect price increase. A report on dzXL radio quoted Maglaya as saying she got assurances from manufacturers of school supplies they will not make any price adjustments for now. On the other hand, Maglaya said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will ensure low prices of school supplies through its "diskwento caravan" at its main office in Makati City. The report said the caravan will sell composition notebooks at P9.65, lower than the regular P12 price; and spiral notebooks at P22 to P24, instead of the regular P28 to P30 price. Since last weekend, parents began trooping to Divisoria in Manila and malls to buy school supplies and uniforms for the coming school year. The Department of Education's calendar for School Year 2010-2011 indicates the opening of classes at the elementary and high school will be on June 14. DTI inspection Government monitoring teams started inspecting outlets in Divisoria Tuesday to check against overpricing of school supplies. A report on dzBB radio said teams from the Departments of Education (DepEd) and DTI started going around outlets in the Divisoria area at about 9 a.m. The report said the teams initially found no gross overpricing of school items, but reminded some vendors to keep the prices of their products down. Parents started flocking to the Divisoria area since last weekend to avail of lower-priced school supplies. Random tests on school supplies As parents rush to buy school supplies, an environmental group pushed for random tests on such items for toxic substances. EcoWaste Coalition also urged parents to be wary of such toxic substances that they said can expose children to harmful substances and affect their growth and development. “To help parents perform such responsibility for their children’s health, the least the government can do, in the absence of a comprehensive chemicals policy in the country, is to strictly enforce product labeling requirements and issue product safety advisories and precautions on items containing toxic chemicals," Thony Dizon of the EcoWaste Coalition's Project PROTECT (People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats) said in an entry on the group's blog site. "To be able to do that, we call upon the government, particularly the DTI, to conduct random testing of usual school supplies, especially those products that are most popular and accessible to bargain hunting shoppers in Divisoria and other similar places," he added. EcoWaste particularly urged the DTI to conduct tests on the school supplies for "priority chemicals of concern." PVC in school supplies EcoWaste particularly voiced concern with the continued use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or plastic number 3 in school supplies and children’s toys and such other articles. PVC has been referred to as the “poison plastic" because of the health and environmental hazards it poses from its production. EcoWaste said the manufacture of PVC involves cancer-causing chemicals while its consumption involves the leaching of chemical additives such as cadmium, lead, organotin compounds and phthalates. It also noted the disposal of PVC results in the formation of dioxins such as when PVC is produced and burned. “Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That’s why it’s important to purchase PVC-free school supplies," advised the US-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), an organization founded by Lois Gibbs of the victorious Love Canal struggle in New York against a leaking toxic waste dump. EcoWaste previously cooperated with CHEJ in releasing a 2008 report on vinyl shower curtains that can discharge toxic chemicals into the air. Tips on avoiding toxic school supplies CHEJ has published a “Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies," which offers practical tips on how to avoid toxic school supplies. Some of these tips are: 1. Avoid backpacks with shiny plastic designs as they often contain PVC and may contain lead. 2. Use cloth lunchboxes or metal lunchboxes. Many lunchboxes are made of PVC, or coated with PVC on the inside. 3. Used cardboard, fabric-covered, or polypropylene binders. Most 3-ring binders are made of PVC. It also provided specific tips from CHEJ to help make safer and non-toxic choices for children's health and future: * Art Supplies: Avoid modeling clays made of PVC. Polymer clays are often loaded with phthalates. Look for clays made without PVC and phthalates, or make your own (recipes are available online such as at the holidayzone.com. * Backpacks: Avoid backpacks with shiny plastic designs as they often contain PVC and may contain lead. * Clothing and Accessories: LLook for PVC-free materials in rainwear (i.e. rain boots and raincoats), prints on clothing, and accessories such as handbags, jewelry and belts. In purchasing accessories like purses and jewelry, look for fabrics and other materials rather than plastics. Choices include jacquards, velvets, crinkled crepes, satins, wood, metals, pearls, rhinestones, etc. * Electronics: Avoid electronics manufacturers who have not committed to phasing out PVC and other toxic chemicals in their production. For a list of companies that are going PVC-free, consult the latest edition of Greenpeace’s Greener Electronics Guide that can be found at the organization's website. Buy electronics from companies who have pledged to responsibly “take it back" at the end of its useful life. * Food Wrap: Use PVC-free butcher paper, waxed paper, parchment paper, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or cellulose bags. Ask the manager of your grocery store to stock PVC-free food wrap for meats and cheeses in the delicatessen. * Lunchboxes: Use cloth lunch bags or metal lunchboxes. Many lunch boxes are made of PVC, or coated with PVC on the inside. * Notebooks: Avoid notebooks containing metal spirals encased in colored plastic. The colored plastic coating on the metal spirals usually contains PVC. Select notebooks with uncovered metal spirals to avoid PVC. * Organizers and address books: Choose organizers/ address books made with sustainably harvested wood, metal, or paper covers. Avoid those made of plastic – these sometimes contain PVC. * Packaging of School Supplies: Avoid single-use disposable packaging whenever possible. Danger signs EcoWaste advised parents to avoid the three-arrow "recycling" symbol with the number 3 and/or the initials PVC; indicating it is made with PVC. "Avoid products packaged in unlabeled plastics, such as clamshells and blister packs, which may contain PVC," it said. Choose products with packaging made from more easily recycled materials like paper (look for those with higher post-consumer recycled content), paperboard, and glass. EcoWaste also urged parents to stick to the plain metal paperclips. Colored paper clips are coated with PVC. On three-ring binders, it urged the use of cardboard, fabric-covered, or polypropylene binders. Most 3-ring binders are made of PVC. The group urged parents to avoid shiny and colorful plastic umbrellas as these are typically made out of PVC. "Look for those made out of other materials such as nylon," it said. On utensils and dishware, it urged parents to use stainless steel utensils. "If you require disposable dinnerware, look for bio-based (made with PLA or PHA plastics) cutlery and plates," it said. "Never microwave with plastics. Use glass, stoneware, or ceramic dishware and containers instead. Heating plastic increases the chances of chemical additives such as bisphenol A, phthalates or other additives leaching into food and beverages," it added. — LBG, GMANews.TV