• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Occidental has partnered with The Metro Stores at Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City for its balik-eskwela diskwento caravan, with the opening of classes on July 29.
Kenneth Villarosa, senior trade industry development specialist, said July 24 that the collaboration to sell school items at discounted prices started July 15 until Aug. 31.
He said they are coordinating with other retail outlets or chain stores in the highly-urbanized city and the province of Negros Occidental to also participate in this initiative.
Villarosa said the increase in the prices of basic school supplies has been minimal, around eight percent, and the DTI has not received any complaint on overpriced items.
Reginald Hudierez of the DTI NegOcc Consumer Protection Unit said there has never been a case of hoarding of school supplies, adding the agency is also monitoring the compliance of stores on the SRPs, or suggested retail prices. “We have an SRP listing and are monitoring the prices of school supplies (as well as) the compliance of stores on the SRP.”
He urged parents and other consumers to do a canvass of the prices of items before deciding on their purchases, and to do it early.
The DTI’s diskwento caravan also “provides an opportunity for consumers to have access to basic goods and prime commodities at reduced prices, by bringing manufacturers and retailers closer to their market,” Hudierez said at the DTI media conference this afternoon at their office in Bacolod.
Aside from the back-to-school discount caravan, there is also a Noche Buena diskwento caravan conducted before the Christmas holiday season, and the post-disaster diskwento caravan, after a calamity or disaster, such as typhoons.
Engiemar Tupas, Industry Development Division OIC chief, said that, starting in May, the DTI also made available the diskwento caravan in tandem with the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. | CGC
