SWS: Hunger drops in fourth quarter of 2018

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino families experiencing hunger decreased in the fourth quarter of 2018, results of a new  Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reveals.

The poll, conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018, found that 10.5 percent or an estimated 2.4 million families suffered from involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months.

This was 2.8 points lower than 13.4 percent or an estimated 3.1 million families recorded in September 2018.

READ: More Filipinos experienced hunger in Q3 — SWS

SWS said “hunger” refers to “involuntary suffering because the respondents answer a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of food to eat.”

Of the 10.5 percent who reported experiencing involuntary hunger, 8.9 percent (2.1 million families) experienced Moderate Hunger and 1.5 percent experienced Severe Hunger.

SWS explained that Moderate Hunger means the respondents experienced hunger “only once” or a “few times” in the past three months while Severe Hunger means the respondents experienced it “often” or “always” in the past three months.

The survey showed that Moderate Hunger decreased by 1.7 points from 10.6 percent in September 2018 to 8.9 percent in December. Meanwhile, Severe Hunger fell by 1.3 points from 2.8 percent in September to 1.5 percent in December.

The December 2018 survey used interviews of 1,440 adults aged 18 years old and above nationwide.

The survey question was: “Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nangyari po ba kahit minsan na ang inyong pamilya ay nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain (In the past 3 months, did it happen even once that your family experienced hunger and not having anything to eat)?

Those who experienced Hunger were further asked: “Nangyari po ba ‘yan ng Minsan Lamang, Mga Ilang Beses, Madalas o Palagi (Did it happen Only Once, A Few Times, Often or Always)?” /ee