The Department of Trade and Industry released the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) bulletin of school supplies to assist the consumers in their purchase of school items, pursuant to Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act that classifies school supplies as prime commodities.
The price guide includes specific brands of notebooks (composition, spiral, and writing), pad paper, pencils, ballpoint pens, crayons, erasers, sharpeners, and rulers.
This year, notebook prices range from P17.50 to P36.75, while grades 1 to 4 pad paper prices vary from P6.50 to P24. Intermediate pad paper, on the other hand, costs P22.50 to P30.
Prices of writing materials such as pencils and ballpoint pens range from P8.25 to P13.25 and from P4.75 to P19.00, respectively.
Depending on the brand, consumers may purchase a box of crayons with eight colors for as low as P18 to as high as P24.
A 12-color pack costs P32 while the price of a 16-color pack ranges from P33.75 to P44.
Meanwhile, eraser prices range from P8.75 to P17.
Sharpeners and rulers are priced at P19 to P32 and P13 to P39, respectively.
“Although some have increased in prices due to the movement of global fuel prices, consumers can save money by purchasing school supplies sold in bundles or promotional packs,” said DTI Consumer Protection Group Usec. Ruth B. Castelo.
“The DTI is closely coordinating with the manufacturers of school supplies to ensure reasonableness of prices and the availability of supply in the market,” DTI Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau Director Marcus N. Valdez II said.
The public may access the SRP bulletin in the DTI website. For consumer-related concerns and queries, send an email to [email protected] or through the One-DTI (1-384) Hotline. – Press release
