As the opening of classes nears, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging parents to buy school supplies in bundles to save money.

During her monitoring at the National Book Store in Baclaran, Parañaque on Sunday, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque discovered that all school supplies—namely pencils, notebooks, crayons, among others—are within the price guide set by the DTI.

“Bumili na lang sila ng mga notebook na nakabundle na kasi as per our checking, mas makakatipid sila,” said Roque when asked for ‘tipid’ tips to parents.

Roque also discovered that some school supplies being sold in the branch are below the price guide, which, according to her, is a good sign and help for consumers.

“Although we don’t set a suggested retail price, we set a price guide for the stores to follow. Luckily, the National Book Store is following that price guide. But consumers have the decision where to buy school supplies. They can still go or choose where they want to buy, they can choose Baclaran or Divisoria. At least these book stores are helping our consumers, especially in these challenging times,” Roque said.

The Department of Education said public schools nationwide will commence classes for School Year 2025–2026 on 16 June, marking a full return to the traditional June-to-March academic calendar.

The DTI-Fair Trade Group (FTG) earlier said that 17 stock-keeping units, or 9 percent of school supplies—particularly notebooks, pencils, and crayons—posted price increases.

In terms of percentage, 8 SKUs posted a 3–10 percent increase (3 notebooks, 2 pencils per pack, 2 crayons, and one ruler brand). In terms of peso value, 8 SKUs, or 4 percent, increased by P1.00 to P5.00 (3 notebooks, 2 pencils per pack, 2 crayons, and 1 ruler brand).

However, the FTG highlighted that most school supplies recorded price reductions, aiming to provide more affordable options for consumers as students prepare for the upcoming school year.

For this school year, the price guide covers 195 SKUs across 12 product categories.

Notably, prices of 29 items dropped compared to the previous year, with reductions ranging from P1.00 to P10.00.