PRICE CHECK. Personnel of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Iloilo monitor the prices of school supplies in an establishment in Iloilo City last week. DTI-Iloilo Director Felisa Judith L. Degala said on Thursday (Aug. 18, 2022) goods are being sold within the suggested retail price. (Photo courtesy of DTI-Iloilo)
ILOILO CITY – Prices of school supplies monitored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Iloilo were found to be within the suggested retail price (SRP) or even lower.
DTI-Iloilo Director Felisa Judith L. Degala, in a phone interview on Thursday, said the new SRP list was released on August 12 and a copy of the bulletin should be displayed in stores to serve as a guide for consumers.
“There are other brands, which are not (on) the list but their prices are still within the SRP,” she said.
Based on their monitoring, the price of a writing notebook with 80 leaves of a brand included in the SRP list was sold at PHP12.50, lower than the PHP17.50 suggested price for those with a generic design and PHP18 for those with character design.
For writing pads for Grades 1 to 4, the prices in the establishment range from PHP14 to PHP21 against the SRP pegged at PHP6 to PHP24 while SRP prices for intermediate pads are from PHP22.50 to PHP30 but the brands available in establishments cost between PHP16.50 and PHP19.75.
The SRP of pencils is from PHP8.25 to PHP13.25 but in actual monitoring, it is cheaper at PHP6 while a ballpoint pen costs PHP4.75 to PHP9 in the SRP list but in the market, it is between PHP5 and PHP7.
Degala likewise urged parents to be vigilant consumers by being meticulous in checking the brand, trademark, manufacturer, and specifications of the products they need.
If they opt to buy online, they should make sure to purchase from legitimate sellers by looking at their business permit, registration, address, and other relevant information.
“That is one way they can protect themselves. Online and physical stores have their after-sales service,” Degala added.
Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) will deploy 1,100 personnel to various strategic areas, such as terminals, transportation hubs, vicinities of schools, and main thoroughfares effective Monday morning to ensure a safe and orderly opening of classes in the region.
They will be augmented by a still undetermined number of force multipliers, such as barangay officials and village security groups.
PRO-6 spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, in a text message, said police assistance desks would be put up, while mobile, foot, and detective patrollers would be deployed. (PNA)
