By Ellalyn V. Ruiz
The number of Filipinos who experienced unintentional hunger in the past three months has decreased to 9.9 percent or an estimated 2.3 million families, a first quarter 2018 Social Weather Stations survey said.
The nationwide survey conducted from March 23 to 27 among 1,200 respondents found out that 9.9 percent or 2.3 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months. This is six points below the 15.9 percent or an estimated 3.6 million families in the last quarter of 2017.
The measure of hunger refers to involuntary suffering because the respondents answered a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of food to eat.
The SWS attributed the lower hunger rate to fewer number of families who experienced hunger in all areas.
The 9.9 percent hunger rate consisted of six percent (190,000 families) in Metro Manila, 11 percent (1.1 million) in the rest of Luzon, 13 percent (583,000) in Visayas, and 7.3 percent (390,000) in Mindanao.