As classes resume in August, DTI mulls SRP for school supplies
INDIVIDUAL donors gave notebooks through the initiative of one of the biggest school supply stores in the country. INQUIRER file photo / Linda B. Bolido
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is considering issuing a suggested retail price (SRP) for school supplies as students prepare for the resumption of classes in August.
Only basic necessities and prime commodities like canned goods, bread, and bottled water are included in DTI’s list of SRPs as of May 12, 2022.
READ: DTI issues new SRP for basic commodities
“Mayroon kaming listahan ng school supplies na presyo pero hindi naman kasi siya mandatory itong school supplies, hindi po siya basic kaya hindi po natin siya ire-regulate,” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said during the Laging Handa briefing.
(We have a list of prices for school supplies, but it is not mandatory; they are not basic goods, which is why we’ll not regulate them.)
She later said, “We’ll see in the next coming days kung ilalabas po namin ang bulletin for Balik Eskwela products.” (We’ll see in the coming days if we are going to issue a bulletin for Balik Eskwela products.)
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Castelo also justified the increase in prices of school supplies as a consequence of the rising cost of fuel worldwide.
“Hindi po natin maiiwasan kung nagtaas rin ang presyo talaga ng mga bookstore or iyong mga nagbebenta ng school supplies. Hindi po natin maiwasan iyan, because global naman iyong fuel price increase so iyong logistics po nila, maaring tumaas ng probably bahagya lang or kung matataas man ang presyo,” she further explained.
(We cannot avoid an increase in the prices of supplies sold by bookstores and other shops because their logistic operations may also be affected by the global increase in fuel prices. So the cost of school supplies may have risen to a certain extent.)
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