Mali, March 20 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday reported lower rice import arrivals amid the local palay harvest in the Philippines.

As of March 13, only 640,915 metric tons (MT) of imported rice have arrived since January, according to the DA.

This is much lower than 1.19 million MT which arrived for the same period last year.

Only 933 out of the 1,428 approved sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) have been utilized for the said period.

In an interview, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said this drop shows the adjustment of the market considering recent importation and the local harvest.

"Ibig sabihin, mababa. Ibig sabihin ito, malaki talaga yung pumasok na imported na bigas last year...