A total of 33 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) offered various school supplies and other basic commodities at discounted prices during the two-day “Balik Eskwela Diskwento” caravan in the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

In an interview on Thursday, DTI Regional Director Brigida T. Pili said a minimum of 10-percent discount was given by the participating MSMEs to the buyers.

The mobile market activity spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was held on Aug. 16 and 17 at the Productivity Center in Barangay Sapang Palay.

Pili said the caravan is held annually before the opening of classes to give students and parents, especially low-income earners, the opportunity to buy lower-priced goods.

She added that aside from easing the financial burden of consumers, the caravan also provides an additional or alternative market for manufacturers and producers.

“Layunin ng caravan na makapagbigay ng oportunidad sa mga residente na makabili ng mura at dekalidad na mga produkto na magagamit ng mga batang magsisipagbalik sa eskwela ngayong Agosto (The caravan aims to give opportunities to the residents to buy cheaper and quality products that can be used by the children who are going back to school this August),” Pili said.

The products sold at the caravan included school supplies, uniforms, bags and shoes, as well as prime commodities such as canned goods, processed foods, breads and detergents, among others.

Some government agencies also offered services such as free haircut and massage from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Bulacan Provincial Office and free medical consultation, medicines and vitamins from the Department of Health.

The Department of Agriculture likewise distributed free vegetable seeds.

Analisa Jimenez, a mother of four children, said the caravan is a big help to low-income earners like her.

“Malaking tulong po ito sa amin. Mura at abot-kayang halaga ang mga produkto tulad na mga school supplies (This is a big help for us. The products such as school supplies are cheap and affordable),” Jimenez said in a social media post of the city government. (PNA)