Slight hike in school uniform prices

CEBU, Philippines —  As classes are set to resume on Monday, June 8, vendors in Mandaue City said prices of school supplies and school uniforms have largely remained stable, with only slight increases in some items.

In an interview yesterday, June 5, Mandaue Public Market uniform vendor Lynlyn Perez said the prices of school uniforms remain the same as last year.

Perez, however, said that some items have increased slightly in price because suppliers have also raised their prices, although the increase is not significant.

For elementary school students, ready-to-wear uniform sets range from P300 to P450.

Perez said prices also vary depending on the type of fabric used, whether plain or checkered.

She added that girls’ uniforms cost up to P450, while boys’ uniforms can cost as much as P380.

Meanwhile, for high school students, uniform prices range from P580 to P600, depending on the size.

“Parehas ra gihapon ang presyo sauna,” Perez said.

Perez said that if there is any increase, it is usually only around P10, especially when suppliers raise their prices.

She said parents need not worry because discounts can still be negotiated when purchasing in bulk.

“Makahangyo ra sila,” Perez said.

Meanwhile, Michelle Abatayo, a resident of Barangay Umapad, said she still has many school supplies to buy for her child, who will be entering kindergarten at Opao Elementary School.

Abatayo said it is her first time experiencing the expenses of having a child in kindergarten. Her daughter, Jhiannei Dy Abatayo, aged four, already has several school requirements.

“Daghan na gyud mig palitunon kay naa na gyud siya sa regular ba,” she said.

For her, it is more practical to buy ready-made uniforms because they are more affordable.

“Mahal man ang magpatahi, palit kag tela mahal sad maong mas maayo nga pre-made na,” Abatayo said.

She said that with P500, she can already buy two uniform sets.

However, she noticed that one uniform set now costs around P400, compared to only P300 in previous years.

“Medyo nimahal gyud siya karon pero sige nalang kay kailangan man,” Abatayo said.

Despite the increase, she believes that buying ready-made uniforms is still more economical.

She explained that although uniforms can be purchased through the school, they cost around P600 for the fabric alone, and parents still need to pay for tailoring services.

The mother said tailoring labor would cost an additional P800.

“Medyo mas makatipid gyud ka og ingon ani,” she said.

For her, parents must prepare an adequate budget for school-related expenses.

“Para di siya maulahi sa iyang mga classmates,” Abatayo said.

On the other hand, Virgie Estoy, a school supplies vendor at the Mandaue City Public Market, said prices of school supplies have actually decreased.

“Wala ra nitaas ang presyo,” Estoy said.

For one, an 80-leaf notebook costs P13, whether it is spiral-bound or not. In previous years, notebooks were priced between P18 and P21.

She added that prices of other school supplies such as pens, paper, pencils, and other items may decrease further.

“Basin naay chance na mu-down pa,” Estoy said.

She said the lower prices in her store are due to reduced costs from suppliers.