• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released the price guide on select school supplies, with school year 2025-2026 set to start on June 16.
The price guide aims to provide more affordable options for consumers as students prepare for the upcoming school year, with decreases and no price movements noted for several brands of notebook, pad paper, pencil, ballpen, crayons, eraser, sharpener, and ruler.
Those interested can check out the prices of these items at bit.ly/2025SchoolSuppliesPriceGuide.
The DTI Negros Occidental, meanwhile, partnered with Robinsons Bacolod and the National Book Store for the “Balik Eskwela Diskwento Caravan” until June 30.
“This is your opportunity to get all your school essentials while keeping your budget happy,” the agency said.
Kenneth Villarosa, senior trade-industry development specialist of DTI Negros Occidental, earlier urged parents and students to take advantage of diskwento caravans (DCs) since goods and school supplies offered by partner-stores and retailers are reasonably-priced.
The DTI said items sold in DCs “are priced lower than their suggested retail prices and sometimes, are being sold in packs, which provide savings to consumers.”
Villarosa also encouraged consumers to make a list and set a budget for school supplies, shop early to avoid the rush but not too early so as not to miss promos or DCs, to do a canvass to compare prices, and to prioritize quality. | CGC
