DTI asked to monitor prices of school supplies

CEBU, Philippines - Barely two weeks before the opening of classes on June, the city council urged the Department of Trade and Industry to strictly monitor the alleged jacking up of prices of school supplies usually rampant when the opening of classes draws near.

In a resolution approved by the council, DTI was urged to monitor prices of school supplies after reports that traders and suppliers have started increasing prices leaving consumers helpless.

“It has been noted by concerned consumers the sudden drop in the supply of some schools supplies in the market whenever there is an impending price escalation and the sudden stabilization of supply once the proposed price increase takes effect,” the resolution read.

The council noted that the general welfare clause of the Local Government Code of 1991 vests in the city government the authority to enact measures designed to protect the rights of the consuming public, thus, the council deemed it necessary to urge the regulatory body to look into the matter seriously.

The regional office of DTI here in a report assured the public that the prices of school supplies have not gone higher than the suggested retail price.

The suggested retail price, as per order from the DTI secretary Jesli Lapus who was formerly Education secretary, should be at the 2009 level.

Those who will be caught selling above the suggested retail price, will be punished under the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

Aside from the monitoring of prices, the city council also wants DTI together with the Department of Education to conduct a random testing on the common school supplies to guide teachers and parents on which products to purchase are environment-friendly.

“Study shows that there are school supplies like notebooks, bags, pencil cases, shoes, books and clothes that contain polyvinyl chloride, and it is a fact that PVC has been referred as the poison plastic which may cause health and environment hazards to children whose immune system are less resistant,” the council said in a separate resolution.   (FREEMAN NEWS)