Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque inspects school supply stalls in Divisoria Market as part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s price monitoring efforts ahead of the school opening this year. (PHOTO FROM DTI)
MANILA, Philippines – Days before the start of a new school year this June, prices of school supplies in the popular thrift marketplace Divisoria have remained within the government’s guide meant to keep prices fair for consumers.
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque led the latest monitoring operation last Sunday as part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) intensified efforts to ensure affordable school essentials amid the return of the traditional academic calendar.
“This year, we are committed to carrying out our duty to the full extent – not only by issuing school supply price guides, but by making sure these are genuinely reflected in stores and markets,” Roque said in a statement.
The price check followed the release of the agency’s “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies,” a consumer guide listing suggested prices of commonly purchased school items.
According to the DTI, all 223 stock keeping units (SKUs) monitored during the Divisoria visit complied with the official price list.
An SKU is the technical term used by stores to identify and categorize inventory by brand, product type and weight.
Items covered included notebooks, pencils, pad paper, crayons, and other back-to-school necessities.
The school year in 2025 will start on June 16, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).