An official of the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) has called on owners of bookstores, department stores, and other establishments in the Davao Region to adhere to the new Suggested Retail Price (SRP) on school supplies in time for the opening of classes this month.
DTI released the SRP for school and office supplies on July 25, 2023.
Based on the price guide, a new notebook brand is priced at P28 for writing and composition; P29 for spiral;,and P30 for yarn. For ballpens, a brand with 3 pieces per pack decreased by 6 percent or P1.50 per pack, from P25.50 to P24.
The prices of writing materials such as pencils and ballpoint pens range from P11 to P17, and from P9.75 to P19, respectively.
For crayons, the price of a certain brand’s 16 and 24-set went down. For erasers, the price of one brand went up by 27 percent or P4, from P15 to P19 compared to a year ago.
Sharpeners and rulers are priced at P18 to P69 and P22 to P27.75, respectively.
“Compared to the previous years na ang prices medyo nitaas karon because of the cost of production sa mga manufacturers. There are factors wherein we have to adjust a slight increase of the prices from the manufacturers’ side because we have to give them a fair Return of Investment (ROI) pero without sacrificing sa purchasing power of our consumers. Naay gamay na increase but not that high compared sa previous years,” said Deolly L. Roque, consumer protection division chief of DTI 11, during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.
Roque said the said SRP is already disseminated to the bookstores and department stores in the Davao Region. DTI 11 also reminded them to adhere to the said SRP.
“So far sa aming monitoring compliant ang mga bookstores and department stores na mino-monitor namin (Davao Region),” she said.
DTI is hoping that in releasing this updated SRP consumers will be more aware of the prevailing market prices, thus, preventing undue price increases during the peak back-to-school and office supply buying season.
