Budget-conscious parents can still fit basic school supplies within a ₱1,000 limit, provided they shop smart and choose lower- to middle-range items, the latest price guide released by the Department of Trade and Industry-Negros Occidental shows.
In a Facebook post on Friday, June 5, DTI-Negros Occidental released the “Gabay sa Pamimili ng School Supplies” for school year 2026-2027 to help consumers prepare for the opening of classes.
The guide lists suggested price ranges for common school supplies, including notebooks, pad papers, pencils, ballpens, crayons, erasers, sharpeners, and rulers.
Writing and composition notebooks with 80 leaves range from P13 to P52, while spiral notebooks range from P14 to P49.
Grade pad paper ranges from P13 to P37, while intermediate pad paper ranges from P22 to P69.75.
Pencils cost P12 to P18 per piece or P15 to P24 per pack, while ballpens range from P3 to P21 per piece or P18 to P27 per pack.
Crayons with eight to 24 colors per box range from P12 to P114, while erasers cost P8 to P20.
Sharpeners range from P16 to P69, while rulers cost P8 to P32.
Using lower-to-mid range prices, a P1,000 budget may already buy around 10 notebooks, two pad papers, two packs of pencils, two packs of ballpens, one box of crayons, an eraser, a sharpener, and a ruler.
A sample basket using modest prices would cost about P455, leaving more than P500 for additional notebooks, folders, envelopes, art materials, or other classroom requirements.
However, the same P1,000 budget may be spent faster if consumers choose higher-priced brands, especially for notebooks, crayons, and sharpeners.
DTI said the price guide aims to give consumers options and help them make informed decisions when buying school supplies.
Consumers may check the full school supplies price guide through the DTI website and official DTI Consumer Care channels.*
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