As the new school year approaches, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released its updated “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies”—a comprehensive price guide designed to help parents and students shop smart.
Spearheaded by the DTI’s Fair Trade Group (FTG), the guide features adjusted prices for essential school items, including a notable decrease in prices for several products. It forms part of the agency’s efforts to provide affordable back-to-school options for Filipino families.
“In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas initiative, the DTI is committed to keeping school essentials within reach of every Filipino household,” said Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque. “We know how financially demanding this season can be for families, and this guide is one way we’re easing that load—so students can head back to school prepared and confident.”
The 2025 guide covers 195 stock keeping units (SKUs) in 12 categories, from notebooks and pad paper to pencils, ballpens, and crayons. Of these, 29 items are priced lower than last year—reduced by ₱1 to ₱10. An additional 101 items retained their 2024 prices, including all ballpens, erasers, and sharpeners.
To offer greater variety and cater to different budgets, this year’s edition also includes 48 newly listed products, showcasing new brands and variants. Products with no price change are marked with a pen icon, while items with lower prices are indicated with a scissors icon.
Price highlights from the 2025 guide:
- Notebooks: ₱15 – ₱52
- Pad paper: ₱15 – ₱48.75
- Pencils: ₱11 – ₱24
- Ballpens: ₱3 – ₱33
- Crayons: ₱12 – ₱114 (various sizes)
- Sharpeners: ₱15 – ₱69
- Rulers: ₱16 – ₱39
- Erasers: ₱4.50 – ₱20
“This guide is part of our promise that no learner will be left behind,” Roque added. “Every child deserves to walk into class ready to learn, and every parent should feel the government is right there with them.”
Consumers are also reminded to inspect labels carefully when purchasing school supplies. Products must indicate the number of pages (for notebooks and pad paper) and display manufacturer or importer details. Items lacking this information should be avoided.
The full guide is available on the official DTI website, as well as the Facebook pages of DTI Philippines and DTI Consumer Care.
