Prices of school supplies
monitored, class opening secured
By Roderick L. Abad
Special Feature
Writer
With barely one week prior to school opening, a surge of consumers
is expected, with people rushing for the “last-minute”
shopping for school supplies.
Given the scenario,
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is monitoring the prices
of prime commodities, especially school supplies following instructions
from Secretary Peter Favila to conduct dialogue with manufacturers
and business establishments selling school supplies.
“The trade department
is protecting the interest of the consumers through two-pronged
strategies in monitoring the increase in the prices of prime commodities
caused by the increase in the prices of gasoline which also triggered
a fare hike that started last year,” said Lou Pasawa, DTI
city director in Davao.
Strategies implemented
by DTI City Field Offices involved the continued monitoring of
prices of basic commodities and the sustained coordination and
consultation with business entrepreneurs in all the regions.Pasawa
said that even before the increase in the prices of oil products,
the DTI had already undertaken close monitoring of prices, in
compliance with the trade and industry laws.
Aside from school supplies,
other products being monitored are construction materials, basic
goods, and all other products that affect the buying capacity
of the consumers. Pasawa said his office had observed that the
business community is complying with their agreement to avoid
increases in the prices of prime commodities and had taken special
consideration on the plight of the poor and marginalized sector.
Last year’s prices
of school supplies remained stable when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
got the commitment of school supplies manufacturers to keep the
costs of their products such as pap paper, pencils, ballpens,
notebooks, crayons, amount others, at same levels in 2004. As
recorded in 2005, a notebook (90 leaves) would cost P8.50 each,
while the large Mongol pencil’s price remained at P4.00
for the third year in a row.
Shopping exodus
All throughout the years, Divisoria, has been busy with all trades, from dry
to wet goods. No doubt, it is dubbed “The Mother of all Markets in Manila.”
Ambulant vendors, street food stalls
and even old and new shopping establishments are the common sights in this most
favorite market place for the many.
Nevertheless, the main reason thousands
of Filipinos keep coming back to Divisoria is it offers goods at their lowest
prices.
This time of the year when school
classes are about to begin, Divisoria is a crowded place with people from all
walks of life shopping for cheap yet quality school supplies.
“As always, we expect the exodus
of people shopping for school supplies prior to the school opening in June.
As early as March, shoppers who have limited budget go to Divisoria to get a
good bargain,” said Freddie Reyes, president of Divisoria Organized Sidewalk
Vendors Association.
For 28 years, Anita Soteco, 49, a
mother of eight kids, has been a regular Divisoria shopper.
“I prefer to buy things, especially
school items, here in Divisoria because the prices are about 50-percent lower
than in other shopping places like malls,” Soteco said in Filipino. Sharing
the same idea with her is Rodora Lualhati, 34, a mother of three elementary
schoolers. “This is where I buy the school supplies of kids. For P2,000.00,
I can purchase bags, uniforms, shoes and school materials for all of them,”
stressed Lualhati.
She added the good thing about Divisoria
vendors is they quote wholesale prices because they usually sell products in
bulks. However, she noted that the people could still choose to buy just one
piece and still get a very good deal.
Although buyers could get everything
sold in Divisoria at the lowest price, storeowners and vendors admitted that
they still earn profits.
For 25 years, Leonardo Cruz, 51, has
been a stall owner of school supplies on the busy streets of Divisoria. He claimed
that his daily income increases during the time when shoppers flock here prior
to the opening of classes. “The inflow of sales is very significant these
days,” said Cruz. “My average income is as much as P5,000 a day,
compared to regular days of school year.”
He added that these days, he usually
closes his shop early because he always runs out of stocks. As observed toward
June, sales of school supplies such as ballpens, pencils, papers, notebooks
and bags sell well in Divisoria
Bracing for school opening
As students start to go back to schools for the opening of classes early in
June, the government has already prepared roads and school buildings.
For its annual preparation program,
“Oplan Balik Eskwela,” the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) linked up with the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure safety and
security of students during enrollment and the start of classes.
DPWH Technical Staff for School Building
Program Engr. Federico Mobo, in an interagency meeting held recently at DepEd
Central Office, reported that they were fast-tracking all high-impact projects
including the construction of school buildings nationwide.
“We are continuously fast-tracking
the other ongoing school-building projects nationwide. Secretary Hermogenes
Ebdane Jr. has already instructed all regional directors and district engineers
to strictly monitor the implementation of the projects,” said Mobo.
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