DTI Secretary Fred Pascual and FDA South Luzon Cluster Director Arnold G. Alindada conduct surprise price monitoring of school supplies in Divisoria Thrusday, August 17. The DTI Team also inspected product specifications to check conformities to product standards.
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual conducted a heightened school supplies price monitoring and enforcement operation in Divisoria on 17 August 2023.
Following the release of the latest "Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies" along with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) “Balik Eskwela” program, the team, organized by the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), conducted a surprise monitoring operation to inspect actual prices of school supplies categorized as prime commodities.
Secretary Pascual said, "We conducted an intensified price monitoring for school supplies to make sure that establishments are following the price guide we issued last month. We want to make sure that parents who will come here to buy school supplies for their children in preparation for the upcoming school year will not fall victims of profiteering and other unjust sales practices."
The team inspected stores in Divisoria that sell school supplies, particularly those offering items listed in the Gabay sa Pamimili or price guide for school supplies, such as specific brands of notebooks (composition, spiral, and writing), pad papers (Grades 1-4 and intermediate), pencils, ballpoint pens, crayons, erasers, sharpeners, and rulers.
Twenty-two (22) of the 23 stores inspected conformed with the price guide. Meanwhile, the DTI called the attention of one (1) retail store upon noticing a school supply item priced higher than the price guide and mandated it to submit a written explanation within three (3) days from receipt of the letter.
Further, Secretary Pascual stressed, "I gave orders to our Regional and Provincial Offices to conduct school supplies price monitoring in various provinces in the country prior to the opening of the school year. We are conducting this nationwide."
Other than prices, the DTI also inspected school supplies' conformance with the Philippine National Standards (PNS), particularly on product specifications for office and school supplies that provide safety and quality requirements of certain products to ensure reliability and safe usage, and compliance with other Fair Trade Laws (FTLs).
The DTI team also inspected school supplies items' product specification, markings, and labels.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), led by FDA South Luzon Cluster Director Arnold G. Alindada was present during the operation. The FDA conducted "test-buy" of some school supplies, such as crayons and watercolors, which will be subjected to further analysis, particularly of the chemical content/s thereof.
According to the Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394), manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers shall be liable for damages caused to consumers by defective and unsafe products as well as for insufficient or inadequate information on the use and hazards.
With this, Secretary Fred Pascual urged consumers to diligently check if school supplies are FDA-approved to ensure that materials used are safe for their children.
The Department engages in a campaign against uncertified items in the market, including the enforcement of technical regulations mandating compliance with Philippine Standard Certification Mark Schemes, particularly Department Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2007.
Environmental watchdogs EcoWaste Coalition and Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) have warned parents and government authorities against school supplies containing the toxic substance phthalates, which may be harmful to children.
In a joint press statement, the environmental groups said phthalates, a synthetic compound usually used to soften products made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic such as eraser is among the known endocrine disrupting chemicals or EDCs.
According to EcoWaste and IDIS, exposure to high concentrations of phthalates can affect hormones such as estrogen or testosterone. It can also interfere with normal growth and brain development of children.
EcoWaste Coalition said its personnel bought a number of school supplies, many of which were lacking labels, from street vendors and retail stores in Divisoria and Quiapo in Manila, where materials are sold at lower prices, and in Pasay, Makati and Quezon City.
Using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence device, the group scanned art materials, bags, water containers and rain gears, as well as accessories for school children, such as hair clips.
Out of 87 samples, 34 were found to have lead and/or cadmium above levels of concern.
Lead was detected in 32 samples that exceeded the regulatory limit of 90 parts per million. It was found highest in the Artex Fine Water Colors (bright yellow cake) at 86,000 ppm.
The water color brand was banned by the Food and Drug Administration as early as 2014 for its high lead levels.
Cadmium was also found in at least 12 samples, including raincoats and backpacks.
According to the World Health Organization, lead exposure can cause lifelong learning and behavioral problems among children, and hypertension and other health issues among adults.
“Even relatively low levels of exposure can cause serious and, in some cases, irreversible neurological damage,” EcoWaste Coalition said.
Cadmium has been classified as carcinogenic to humans. It has also been associated with birth defects and learning disabilities.
The DTI enjoins consumers to report retailers, distributors, and manufacturers that sell basic necessities above their SRPs or uncertified items, through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1-384) or consumercare@dti.gov.ph. (pia-ncr)
