SPECIAL REPORT

For now, Bookchigo, which has become popular due to its books-by-weight (books per kilo) scheme, still absorbs whatever costs have been passed on to them by their foreign suppliers.

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Bookchigo's physical store in Cavite.

"We are not a profit-oriented company. Our advocacy is providing cheaper books," Alonzo told The STAR.

"If these price increases are not significant to the point of killing our business, then we will just find better opportunities to recover the additional costs instead of raising prices upfront," he added.

Bookchigo sells books at a standard rate of P200 per kilo while its warehouse deal is discounted at P180 per kilo with a bonus one kilo for every three kilos bought. A kilo of books would range from six to 10 pieces.

The company also offers wholesale rates that range from P100 per kilo to P140 per kilo depending on the weight. For example, one pallet of books weighing approximately 500 kilos would be priced at P110 per kilo.

"Our prices are even cheaper than buying a fake one or illegally printed books," Alonzo said.

Both Booksale and Bookchigo's most in-demand books are for children. The two entities attribute this to the number of Filipino kids today whose parents have opted to expose them to printed materials, particularly books, steering them away from gadgets such as smartphones and tablets.