More Pinoy families experience hunger in Q3 — survey

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipino families that experienced involuntary hunger in the third quarter of the year rose by half a million, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

About 11.8 percent or an estimated 2.7 million families claimed to have experienced having nothing to eat at least once in the past three months, based on the poll conducted from Sept. 23 to 27.

The latest hunger rate was 2.3 points above the 9.5 percent or about 2.2 million families who went hungry in June.

It also matched the 11.9 percent or around 2.7 million families who experienced hunger based on a survey in March this year.

The 11.8 percent hunger rate is composed of 9.6 percent (about 2.2 million families) who experienced “moderate hunger” and 2.1 percent (around 493,000 families) who experienced “severe hunger.”

Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the last three months.

The few who did not state their frequency of hunger were classified under moderate hunger, the pollster said.

“Both moderate hunger and severe hunger increased between June 2017 and September 2017. Prior to this, both had been steadily declining since December 2016,” it said.

Moderate hunger rose from 7.9 percent in June to 9.6 percent in September. This is similar to the 9.7 percent registered in March.

Severe hunger went up to 2.1 percent from 1.6 percent previously. This is similar to the 2.2 percent in March.

Hunger incidence rose in all areas except Mindanao, the SWS said.

In Metro Manila, it increased from 11.3 percent (estimated 353,000 families) in June to 11.7 percent in September.

Moderate hunger in Metro Manila fell from 10 percent in June to 9.3 percent in September. However, severe hunger in the region rose from 1.3 percent to 2.3 percent.

Hunger rose by 5.5 points in balance Luzon, from 8.3 percent (about 645,000 families) in June to 13.8 percent in September.

Moderate hunger in balance Luzon rose by 4.8 points, from 6.3 percent to 11.2 percent. Severe hunger in the area also rose by 0.7 points, from two percent to 2.7 percent.

Hunger likewise rose in the Visayas, from 8.7 percent (about 324,000 families) to 9.7 percent.

Moderate hunger in the Visayas increased from 7.3 percent in June to 8.7 percent in September. Severe hunger though fell from to 1.3 percent to one percent.

In Mindanao, hunger dropped to 9.7 percent from 11.3 percent (estimated 523,000 families).