THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) vowed a continuous monitoring of school supplies in time for the start of classes next week.
Freda Gawisan, DTI Baguio-Benguet director, said a weekly monitoring is being conducted to ensure the prices and quality of school supplies being sold.
"There would be a time for our suppliers to replenish if ever there is a shortage. As of now, we have not seen shortage of supplies and that would be determined by June 1," she said.
Gawisan said the sufficient supply of school materials this year can be attributed to the different start of classes in the public and private sector.
On the part of the suppliers, Gawisan said they can back up for the month of July following the start of classes for private schools August this year.
The Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) for composition notebooks range from P12.20 to P40, ballpens at P5 to P30.75, regular number eight crayons from P12 to P17.75, and pencil from P12 to P16. 50.
"Baguio city is a key area. We do monitoring on a weekly basis to regulate. All prices should not go beyond the suggested retail price," said Gawisan during the Kapihan in La Trinidad.
Gawisan said they cannot impose prices, adding that when the manufacturers request for price increase, the local price council will review its validity for approval and posting.
In buying school supplies, DTI advised the public to look into the labels of the school supplies, including their name, class, number of pages, the manufacturer, the country where the product was manufactured, and whether they are non-toxic.
For complaints regarding the quality of the supplies, stakeholders are encouraged to report to the nearest DTI offices.