DTI issues price list for school supplies

In a bid to prevent profiteering, the Department of Trade and Industry has issued a list of suggested retail prices (SRP) for school supplies in time for the opening of classes in June. The DTI said the prices of products such as notebooks, pad paper, pencils and crayons will vary depending on the brand and the type of material used. Prices of composition notebooks with 80 leaves of “econobond" paper range from P9.50 to P13.50, depending on the brand. The more expensive ones using bond paper go for P18.75. Writing notebooks with 80 leaves of “econobond" paper have prices starting from P9.50, while those using bond paper may fetch prices up to P18.75. Spiral notebooks with 80 leaves may fetch prices ranging from P9.50 for those using “econobond" paper to P19.75 using bond paper.

Pad paper for Grades 1-4 (80 leaves) may cost between P9 to P22.50, while intermediate pad paper (80 leaves) may cost between P15 to P24. On the other hand, prices of pencils range from P3.75 each or P9.75 (packs of three) to P25 (packs of three). Crayons may fetch prices from P9 (basic 8 colors) to P96 (48 colors). The DTI also urged parents to check labels on the school supplies indicating the number of pages, the kind of paper, brand name, and name and address of the manufacturer, converter or importer. It also urged them to check school supplies, particularly crayons, for “non-toxic" labels. Consumers with questions about the quality of the school supplies can call the DTI hotline at 751-3330, it said. No reason to raise prices DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said there was no reason for manufacturers and dealers to raise prices of school supplies, especially at this time. Maglaya, in a radio interview Wednesday, said the manufacturers told DTI Secretary Jesli Lapus in a recent meeting their products had already been manufactured and are in warehouses. “Lahat na stocks naroon sa merkado. Wala na dapat magkaroon ng dahilan para magkaroon ng adjustment. Gawa na, nasa bodega na. Kung ano ang pagtaas ng raw materials ng paggawa ng school supplies di na dapat makaapekto sa retail price (All stocks are in the market. There should be no reason for price adjustments. So any price hike in raw materials must not be reflected at least during the opening of classes)," she said in an interview on dwIZ radio. She also said that when she and Lapus inspected stores in Divisoria Tuesday, they found school supplies there were priced lower by an average of P1 to P2. On the other hand, she said many retailers would even bring down prices or offer discounts and promotional prices as school opening draws near, so they can get rid of old stocks. She added that retailers even hold promos and offer lower prices just to get rid of old stocks, so there is no cause for worry over higher prices of school supplies. — LBG, GMANews.TV