Malacañang vows to sustain gains as poll shows easing hunger

Malacañang on Monday emphasized the need to work harder amid a recent survey showing that fewer Filipinos experienced hunger in the last quarter.

“Government is determined to sustain the gains achieved in terms of addressing poverty and hunger. That is why the biggest slice of the 2016 budget was allotted to social protection and human development,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told media.

READ: SWS: Fewer Filipinos experienced hunger in Q4 of 2015

The latest poll of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), conducted from December 5 to 8, 2015, showed that 11.7 percent of 1,200 respondents or an estimated 2.6 million families experienced hunger in the last three months. This is lower than September when 15.7 percent of respondents said they experienced hunger.

“This decrease brings the average hunger rate for 2015 to 13.4%. This is 4.9 points below the 2014 average of 18.3%, and is also the lowest annual rate for the series in 11 years,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

Lacierda pointed out that SWS earlier released survey results showing declines in self-rated poverty and food poverty “with the annual averages for both series—50% and 35%—now at their lowest levels since 2011 and 1988, respectively.”

He said inclusive growth has long been the “north star” and guide of the Aquino administration.

“The main goal is to include everyone in the nation’s rise. In line with this, the Aquino government has been making valuable investments in such sectors as health, education, social services, and job skills development,” he said.

Lacierda said the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer, for example, has reached and enabled 1.5 million households or 7.5 million individuals “to rise above the poverty line.”

“Rest assured that in the following months, the government will continue to make sure that all our countrymen feel the positive effects of the nation’s recent progress under Daang Matuwid,” he said.