The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Occidental has started monitoring commercial establishments in the province to ensure compliance with suggested retail prices (SRPs) for school supplies, its official said.
Reginald Hudierez, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the agency's monitoring team yesterday, Tuesday, May 22 started to check on prices and supply of school items sold among local stores.
Hudierez said the team is particularly checking those products included in the "Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies" issued by DTI Central Office on May 15, 2018.
"We are ensuring that stores are compliant to the SRPs," he said, adding that the agency only monitors those frequently purchased products, not high-end ones.
Based on the new SRPs, prices of 80 leaves of composition and writing notebooks range from P12.20 to P34 depending on brand.
Spiral notebooks cost P12.20 to P34.75 while promo pack prices range from P129.75 to P164.75 also depending on brand.
For pad papers of various brands, the price ranges from P6 to P11 per 80 leaves. Writing and intermediate cost P11 to P42.75 and P12.20 to P33.75, respectively.
Three pieces per pack of pencil should cost P12 to P37.50 while ballpen has SRPs of P5 to P30.75 per piece, also depending on brand.
Other products like crayons cost P12 to P69.75 per box; eraser - P7.50 to P14.75 per piece; sharpener - P8 to P34.75 per piece; and ruler - P9.76 to P32.75 per piece.
Hudierez said establishments in the province, especially in Bacolod City, have been compliant to SRPs especially of notebooks for the last several years.
Hudierez said if there are excesses "very few particularly on pencils" but stores normally comply immediately upon calling their attention.
"We expect the same level of compliance this year but we are not letting our guards down thus, SRP compliance monitoring continues," he added.
Erring establishments will be given show cause order by the DTI for them to have fair opportunity to explain that their prices are reasonable.
Those found violating the SRPs will be formally charged with profiteering, which is provided under Price Act, with corresponding fines depending on the asset size of the business.
Moreover, DTI-Negros Occidental noted a slight increase in the volume of buyers of school supplies this week.
As the influx of consumers is expected a week prior to the school opening on June 4, the agency will also intensify the visibility of the monitoring personnel among establishments including malls, department stores, and public market stalls.
Hudierez said they will also distribute more copies of the SRPs for the establishments to post in their respective product stands.