The number of Filipino families that experienced hunger slightly increased in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
The nationwide survey conducted last December 3 to 6 said that 13.9 percent of the 1,500 adult respondents or an estimated 3.1 million families experienced involuntary hunger at least once from November to December 2016, three points higher than the 10.6 percent or 2.4 million families in the previous quarter. It is 2.2 points more than the 11.7 percent or 2.6 million families recorded in December 2015.
Despite this, the hunger rate remained the same from 2015 to 2016, which is at 13.3 percent in 2016 and 13.4 percent in 2015.
The respondents were particularly asked, “Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nangyari po ba kahit minsan na ang inyong pamilya ay nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain? Oo o hindi?”
The hunger rate increased in all geographic areas in the country in the last three months.
In Metro Manila, 399,000 families or 13 percent declared that they experienced hunger, six points up from 7.3 percent or 225,000 families in the last quarter.
In Luzon, hunger rose to 15 percent or 1.5 million families from 11.7 percent or 1.2 million families. In the Visayas, it went up to 16.7 percent (724,000 families) from 13 percent (565,000 families).
It Mindanao, 10 percent (515,000 families) declared that they experienced hunger, two points up from 8.3 percent (429,000 families) in the last quarter.
Those who experienced hunger were further asked, “Nangyari po ba ‘yan ng minsan lamang, mga ilang beses, madalas, o palagi?”
Around 10.9 percent or an estimates 2.5 million families experienced moderate hunger while three percent or an estimated 673,000 families experienced severe hunger. (Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz)