DTI on buying of school supplies: Check labels
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here asked the retailers to follow the “suggested retail price” in selling school supplies as school opening in June draws near.
Only last week, the DTI has received suggested retail price of school supplies from the office of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.
According to Louie Garnica of DTI Iloilo, there are so many brands of school supplies coming out in the market however, he emphasized that customers should look for its “label” to assure the quality of these school supplies.
Garnica revealed that there are some items which prices are cheaper compared to the suggested prices.
“These might contain harmful chemicals,” he quipped.
The DTI personnel also advised some useful tips in selecting school supplies.
Garnica said that in checking notebooks and pad papers, customers should count the number of pages which is indicated outside the cover of a pad paper.
In checking crayons and pencils, customers should verify the trademark or brand and make sure that there is an indication of ‘non-toxic’ which means that the product passed the allowed toxicity level of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Aside from a crackdown on school supplies with toxic materials, Garnica added that DTI will also go against school materials particularly notebooks with lewd covers.
Garnica stressed that they will confiscate these school materials sold in bookstores and other markets.
Also, he emphasized manufacturers or vendors of such items might face sanctions once caught.
