Manila, April 14 -- The prices of imported rice have dropped by an average of PHP5 per kilo, based on the latest monitoring by the Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agricultural Technology Office (DA-PATCO) in Negros Oriental.

DA-PATCO Negros Oriental head Bernard Limbaga told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that the average price of imported rice as of the last week of March was down to PHP60/kg from PHP65.

"Commercial rice traders here have plenty of supply of imported rice and have flooded the local market in this capital," Limbaga said in an interview.

Local premium rice is more expensive than imported premium at an average of PHP70/kg.

Limbaga attributed this to operational costs during harvest and higher transport fees ...