Manila City, Philippines—With the traditional academic calendar returning and classes set to begin in June, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has intensified its efforts to ensure affordable and reasonably priced school supply. On June 1, DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque led a comprehensive inspection of various stores in Divisoria Market, a popular hub for school essentials.

The heightened monitoring followed the release of the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies”, a comprehensive consumer price guide designed to help parents and students make informed purchasing decisions.

“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,” said Secretary Roque.

“This initiative is aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda, which prioritizes accessible, quality education and seeks to ease the financial burden on parents as they prepare their children for the new school year,”  the trade chief added.

Secretary Roque, joined by DTI-Fair Trade Group Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero, thoroughly checked seven ambulant stores and one major school supplies chain. This inspection covered essential items such as pencils, ballpens, notebooks, pad papers, crayons, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, and other school essentials.

The DTI confirmed that all 223 stock keeping units checked during the visit followed the suggested retail prices outlined in the price guide. Beyond price checks, the DTI Secretary also engaged with the vendors and shoppers to gather firsthand information on prevailing market conditions and consumer buying behavior.

Highlighting consumer responsibility, the DTI stressed the importance of informed and sensible buying.

“We know that preparing for the new school year can be overwhelming for many families. That’s why we urge parents and students to use our price guide as a tool to stretch every peso wisely. By being informed and vigilant, we can all help ensure that every child walks into class with the supplies they need—and with dignity and confidence,” Roque added.

To further empower consumers, a copy of the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” price guide was also posted within the school supplies establishments for the public’s reference.

The Department, through the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), conducts its seasonal monitoring of school supply prices before the start of every school year, in addition to its regular price monitoring efforts. Since May, the DTI has inspected a total of 61 school supply outlets across Metro Manila as part of its intensified monitoring campaign.

Consumers who encounter pricing violations are encouraged to report through the DTI hotline 1-DTI (1-384), or by emailing ConsumerCare@dti.gov.ph or ReportToSec@dti.gov.ph.