Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) — Fewer Filipino families went hungry in the first quarter of 2017.
This, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS), who asked 1,200 people whether they experienced involuntary hunger during the period.
SWS defines involuntary hunger is experienced when there is a lack of food to eat.
Respondents were asked, “Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nangyari po ba kahit minsan na ang inyong pamilya ay nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain?”
[Translation: In the last 3 months, did it happen even once that your family experienced hunger and not have anything to eat?]
Those who experienced hunger were further asked: “Nangyari po ba ‘yan ng minsan lamang, mga ilang beses, madalas, o palagi?”
[Translation: Did it happen only once, a few times, often, or always?]
The survey showed 11.9 percent – an estimated 2.7 million households – experienced involuntary hunger at least once.
This number is two points lower compared to a similar survey conducted in December 2016. That time 13.9 percent or around 3.7 million families reported involuntary hunger.
In the same period last year, 13.7 percent reportedly did not have enough food to get by at least once.
SWS said, “The survey questions about the family’s experience of hunger are directed to the household head.”
The survey was conducted from March 25 to 28.
Abella: Lower numbers are proof of admin’s success
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella was quick to declare that the decline in the number of hungry Filipinos “affirms the positive impact of the Duterte administration’s poverty alleviation efforts on the lowest rung of society.”
He added, “Some of the government’s immediate pro-poor and inclusive efforts include social protection to the poor, the marginalized and the neglected sectors, such as conditional cash transfer to the poorest of the poor, higher pension for seniors, free medicine for indigents, added incentives and combat duty pay for police and soldiers, gratuity pay to job order and contract workers in the government and regularization of tens of thousands of employees.”
“The government’s long-term goal, however, is to improve the lives of Filipinos across sectors, through effective delivery of goods and services, like increased spending in infrastructure projects and the promotion of easy access microfinancing system,” he said.
The fight against malnutrition
The SWS survey comes at the heels of the launch of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2017-2022 on Tuesday.
The program is an initiative by the Department of Health and the National Nutrition Council, the PPAN 2017-2022 serves as a blueprint for nutrition intervention in the Philippines.
Read: DOH launches blueprint to curb nutrition deficiencies among Filipino children
In a 2015 study by the Food Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, 21.5 percent of Filipino children under five are experiencing undernutrition, caused by lack of food or substances necessary for growth and health.
Apart from infants, young children, and mothers – including those from indigenous communities and far-flung areas – are part of the PPAN roadmap.
CNN Philippines’ Chad de Guzman contributed to this report.
