Manila, Sept. 5 -- Successive weather disturbances have driven up the prices of vegetables and fish, contributing to a faster overall inflation rate in August, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday.

The agency issued the statement after inflation rose to 1.5 percent in August from 0.9 percent in July, with food inflation logged at 0.6 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa explained that heavy rains disrupted fishing activities and flooded vegetable farms, pushing prices higher.

"Dahil iyon sa sunud-sunod na pag-ulan na nakakaapekto talaga sa presyo ng gulay atsaka isda (That's because of the consecutive rains which have affected the prices of vegetab...