BY JEN BAYLON

As the new school year approaches, parents in Negros Occidental are facing a slight increase in the prices of some school supplies, according to the monitoring of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Western Visayas.

The DTI reported that 24 percent of school supplies — such as notebooks, pens and pencils — have seen price hikes due to rising manufacturing costs.

However, the DTI noted that 68 percent of supplies remained stable, while eight percent of the products experienced a decrease in prices.

Reginald Hudierez, head of the DTI Negros Occidental Consumer Protection Unit, advised consumers to be mindful of price fluctuations and to compare prices in various stores.

“We encourage parents to canvass prices from different retailers to get the best deals,” Hudierez said.

“It’s also a good idea to buy early to avoid last-minute shopping and potential price increases,” he added.

Based on DTI’s monitoring, prices of notebooks range from P11.80 to P52 (P12 to P47 for spiral, and P12.70 to P42 for yarn).

Pad papers cost from P9.50 to P61 for Grades 1 to 4, and P13.80 to P48.75 for intermediate pads.

Pencil prices range from P11 to P17 per piece, and from P15 to P22.50 per pack.

Ballpens are priced from P3 to P21 each, while the three-piece packs are priced from P8 to P33.

Crayon prices range from P12 to P114, depending on the number of pieces per box; sharpeners, P15 to P69; erasers, P4.50 to P20; and rulers, P16 to P29.

The DTI’s monitoring aims to ensure fair trade practices and protect consumers from unfair price hikes.

The agency is working closely with retailers and suppliers to maintain stability in the market and prevent price manipulation.

The DTI advised parents to take advantage of promotions and discounts offered by retailers./JB, WDJ