SWS: Hunger rises in Metro Manila, Mindanao

More Filipinos have experienced involuntary hunger in Metro Manila and Mindanao in the past three months even though overall nationwide, figures on hunger went down, the latest survey from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

According to the survey released on Monday, 9.4 percent or an estimated 2.2 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once from April to June this year.

“This is 0.5 points below the 9.9% (est. 2.3 million families) quarterly hunger in March 2018. This is only the third time hunger has been in the single-digit range since March 2004,” SWS said.

The social research agency said the 9.4 percent figure was the sum of:

• 8.1 percent (1.9 million families) who experienced “moderate hunger,” and
• 1.3 percent (estimated 294,000 families) who experienced “severe hunger.”

“Moderate hunger” refers to those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months.

On the other hand, “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, which fell by 0.4 percent from 8.6 percent in March to 8.1 in December.

The survey was conducted from June 27 to 30 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide.

Higher in Metro Manila, Mindanao

The SWS also said hunger increased up by 7 points in Metro Manila and 4 points in Mindanao.

In contrast, hunger went down by 3.7 each in Luzon and Visayas.

“Quarterly hunger rose from 6.0 percent in March 2018 to 13 percent in June 2018,” the survey said.

In Mindanao, quarterly hunger was up from 7.3 percent in March to 11.3 percent in June.

Quarterly Hunger fell by 3.7 points in Luzon, from in 11.0 percent in March to 7.3 percent June.

In the Visayas, it fell from 13.0 percent in March to 9.3 percent in June.   /vvp