Hunger rises in Q3 – SWS

MANILA, Philippines — After declining sharply in the second quarter, Filipinos claiming to have experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months have increased, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

From 16.1 percent in June, the hunger rate rose to 22 percent in the third quarter of 2025, based on the Sept. 24 to 30 survey conducted by SWS.

In reaction, Malacañang blamed the recent calamities for the rise in involuntary hunger figure.

As defined by the SWS, involuntary hunger is being hungry and having nothing to eat at least once in the past three months.

Involuntary hunger increased across areas, except among respondents in the Visayas where it dropped from 21.7 percent in June to 17.7 percent in September.

Hunger was highest in Metro Manila at 25.7 percent (from 21.7 percent), followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 23.8 percent (from 15.3 percent) and Mindanao at 19.7 percent (from 9.7 percent)

The latest hunger rate represented 16.7 percent of respondents who said their families experienced moderate hunger (from 12.8 percent in June) and 5.2 percent who experienced severe hunger (from 3.3 percent).

Moderate hunger is defined as one that is experienced “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to hunger experienced “often” or “always” in the last three months. The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.

“Let’s not forget the calamities that our countrymen have experienced one after another. This has affected the continuous work of our government, especially the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to reduce the hunger rate of the country,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a briefing.

She said such surveys are helpful as they could guide the administration in its initiatives to uplift the lives of Filipinos.

“And let’s remember, our government does not stop with programs such as the walang gutom program, special feeding program,” Castro pointed out.

Price freeze mulled

Meanwhile, a price freeze may soon be imposed on selected agricultural goods in Metro Manila and in the Visayas, as part of a broader government measure to regulate market prices in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino.

At a press conference, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said authorities are still assessing which high-value crops may face shortages before finalizing the measure.

“We have to really identify which (commodities will face a shortage),” Tiu Laurel told reporters.

“But it is more than likely that it will not be a national price freeze,” he added, explaining that they want to target specific areas depending on where the affected produce is sold.

Asked when the freeze might be implemented, Tiu Laurel said authorities would have a clearer picture by today or tomorrow.

Under existing rules, a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities can be automatically triggered in areas placed under a state of calamity. — Bella Cariaso, Alden Monzon