INVOLUNTARY HUNGER. A 2023 second quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reveals that at least 10.4 percent of Filipino families experienced voluntary hunger at least once in the past three months. The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide from June 28 to July 1, 2023. (Infographic courtesy of SWS)
MANILA – At least 10.4 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The survey, which was conducted from June 28 to July 1, revealed that the June 2023 figure was higher than the involuntary hunger prevalence of 9.8 percent in March 2023.
The pollster, however, pointed out that the latest hunger rate was lower than 11.8 percent in December 2022.
The SWS defines involuntary hunger as being hungry and not having anything to eat at least once in the previous three months.
According to the SWS posted on its website on Wednesday, the figure of 10.4 percent of Filipino families who experienced involuntary hunger is the sum of two values: 8.3 percent who experienced moderate hunger and 2.1 percent who experienced severe hunger.
Moderate hunger refers to those who went hungry "only once" or "a few times" in the past three months, while severe hunger refers to those who were "often" or "always" hungry in the past three months.
SWS said the experience of hunger was highest in Metro Manila at 15.7 percent, followed by Balance Luzon at 11.3 percent, the Visayas at 9.3 percent, and Mindanao at 6.3 percent of families.
"The 0.6-point rise in Overall Hunger between March 2023 and June 2023 was due to increases in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, combined with a steady percentage in the Visayas and a sharp decline in Mindanao," SWS said.
The Second Quarter 2023 Social Weather Survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide.
The sampling error margins are ±2.5 percent for national percentages, ±4.0 percent in Balance Luzon, and ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. (PNA)
