No shortage, overpricing of school supplies in NegOr

By Mary Judaline Partlow

July 25, 2024, 10:02 am

<p><strong>LAST-MINUTE SHOPPERS</strong>. People flock to a department store in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Wednesday (July 24, 2024) to buy school supplies in time for the opening of classes on July 29. The Department of Trade and Industry in the province is monitoring retail establshments to ensure that school supplies are sold within the suggested retail prices. <em>(PNA photo by Mary Judaline Flores Partlow)</em></p>

LAST-MINUTE SHOPPERS. People flock to a department store in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Wednesday (July 24, 2024) to buy school supplies in time for the opening of classes on July 29. The Department of Trade and Industry in the province is monitoring retail establshments to ensure that school supplies are sold within the suggested retail prices. (PNA photo by Mary Judaline Flores Partlow)

DUMAGUETE CITY – Five days ahead of the opening of classes on July 29, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Negros Oriental said on Wednesday that they have not received reports of shortage, hoarding, or overpricing of school supplies.

Krystle Jade Bato, DTI-Negros Oriental spokesperson, told the Philippine News Agency that they are closely monotoring major retailers to ensure that prices of basic school supplies are within the suggested retail price list released by the agency.

“We are monitoring every week at least four major stores in Dumaguete City, being the capital of Negros Oriental and where the majority of the people flock to before the opening of classes,” Bato said.

Bato said they are constantly reminding the retail outlets of the price list that was earlier released as a guide for them to avoid sanctions.

Even local government units (LGUs) are also monitoring the prices of school supplies in their respective areas, she added.

During their latest monitoring, Bato said one store was found to be selling two items higher by around PHP2 than the other business establishments, and their attention was already called.

She urged the public to buy school supplies early to avoid long lines at the retail stores. (PNA)

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