22.9% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, the Social Weather Survey (SWS) of September 2024 found.
The hunger figure increased to 5.3 points above the 17.6% in June 2024, attaining the highest record to date since the height of COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. This year's three-quarter hunger average of 18.2% had a slight increase compared to the 2023 annual hunger average of 10.7%.
Hunger doubles in Mindanao and Visayas
However, the survey found that Mindanao experienced the highest rate of hunger within families, at 30.7%, closely followed by Visayas at 26.0%.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila landed at 21.7%, and Balance Luzon (Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 18.1%.
According to SWS, the 5.3-point rise in hunger between June and September was caused by the sharp rise of hunger in Mindanao and Visayas, combined with the other mentioned areas.
“The 22.9% hunger rate in September 2024 was the sum of 16.8% who experienced Moderate Hunger and 6.1% who experienced Severe Hunger,” the SWS said.
“Moderate Hunger" refers to those who experienced hunger “Only Once” or “A Few Times” in the last three months. Meanwhile, Severe Hunger refers to those who experienced it “Often” or “Always” in the previous three months,” it added.
Hunger rate among the Poor
In the same month, the survey found that 59% of Filipino families rated themselves as poor or mahirap.
According to SWS, hunger occurs at different rates among the poor and non-poor. However, they stressed how hunger is usually the highest among the poor, specifically among the food-poor.
The rate of Total Hunger had a sharp increase among the Self-Rated Poor, compared to the data from June 2024. On the contrary, those among the Non-Food-Poor bracket barely had any changes from 13.0% to 13.1%.
