BACOLOD CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod has asked the Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Occidental and the City Price Monitoring Council to strictly monitor the prices of school supplies in Bacolod as classes open next week.

The opening of classes is fast approaching and parents and students are rushing to buy school supplies, the City Council said, adding that the growing number of buyers of school supplies could be taken advantaged by small vendors and sari-sari stores owners by selling their goods at unreasonable prices.

"Parents and students should be protected from such unscrupulous act since most of them are indigent members of the community and their income is just enough for their needs," it added.

The DTI has been deploying Diskwento Caravan across the country, including Bacolod this week, to give parents and students a chance to buy school supplies at a discounted price of at least ten percent.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the move is part of the government's thrust to make available to the public quality school supplies at affordable prices.

"With inter-agency coordination and with support from local manufacturers and private business groups we can offer huge discounts on school opening essentials for public schools," Luistro said in a press report.

The DTI publishes the suggested retail price of school supplies to serve as guide by the buying public and also distributes SRP posters in school supply outlets and in other government offices.

The Bureau of Product Standards has also advised the public to look for "non-toxic" labels on school supplies which means that the level of toxicity has been approved by the Department of Health.*NLG