With the opening of classes approaching on 16 June 2025, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is encouraging parents to purchase bundled school supplies to save money.

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque — during a monitoring visit Sunday at National Bookstore in Baclaran, Parañaque — found that prices for all school supplies, including pencils, notebooks and crayons, were within the DTI’s set price guide.

“They should just buy bundled notebooks because, as per our checking, they will save more,” Roque said, offering advice to parents.

Roque also cited that some school supplies at the branch were being sold below the price guide, which

Residents in parts of Metro Manila and Cavite have been experiencing water interruptions since Saturday afternoon — sparking frustration, particularly in Tondo, Manila — where the issue originated.

Reports said that a Maynilad pipeline was struck by a backhoe Saturday during ongoing construction of Pritil Market on Nicolas Zamora Street in Tondo, leading to service disruptions in Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite.

Jocelyn Saldana, a resident, expressed her dismay, saying, “This is too much trouble for people. It’s unbearable.” She also criticized the delayed information dissemination, which prevented residents from storing water for cooking, bathing and flushing toilets.

On Sunday, residents of Barangay 95 in Tondo were seen lining up with pails and water gallons to get supplies from a Bureau of Fire Protection fire truck.

Maynilad, the water concessionaire, explained that torrential rains Saturday morning complicated repair efforts as a she considered a positive sign for consumers.

“Although we don’t set a suggested retail price, we set a price guide for the stores to follow,” Roque explained.

“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 bookstores are helping our consumers, especially in these challenging times,” she added.

To recall, the Department of Education announced that public schools nationwide will begin classes for School Year 2025–2026 on 16 June, marking a full return to the traditional June-to-March academic calendar.