Survey shows plunge in hunger incidence

 

Fewer Filipinos are experiencing involuntary hunger at present, the lowest in  a decade, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The survey conducted last March 20-23, 2015 revealed that 13.5 percent or an estimated 3 million families experiencing hunger at least once in the past three months.

This is 3.7-percentage points lower than the 17.2 percent figure (3.8 million families) in December 2014.

This is also the lowest figure on involuntary hunger incidence in the country since May 2005 when it was at 12 percent.

The 3 million families who experienced hunger in the first quarter of 2015 include 2.5 million families who experienced moderate hunger and an estimated 522,000 families who experienced severe hunger.

In the SWS survey, 'Moderate Hunger' refers to those who experienced hunger "Only Once" or "A Few Times" in the last three months, while Severe Hunger refers to those who experienced it "Often" or "Always" in the last three months.

The survey revealed that the balance in Luzon experienced the highest hunger rate at 14.3 percent or an estimated 1.4 million families, followed by Mindanao at 14.3 percent or an estimated 726,000 families.

In Visayas, the hunger rate was at 11 percent or an estimated 470,000 families.

In Metro Manila, the hunger rate stands at 12.7 percent or 382,000 families. -end-

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