Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22)— More Filipinos felt hunger in the second quarter of the year, an independent pollster reported Monday.
A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from June 22 to 26 reported that 10 percent, or an estimated 2.5 million families, experienced involuntary hunger at least once during the last three months.
This was up from the 9.5 percent (or approximately 2.3 families) national hunger rate established in the first quarter of the year.
The slight increase comes after a dip of 3.8 percentage points over the previous three quarters— from 13.3 percent in September 2018 to 9.5 percent in March 2019.
Around 2.1 million families (8.7 percent) experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times,” which SWS categorized as moderate hunger. Meanwhile, around 320,000 families (1.3 percent) experienced severe hunger, which happens “often” or “always” during the said period.
The rate for the moderate hunger increased by 0.6 of a point from March, while severe hunger remained at 1.3 percent.
Hunger incidence also increased both in Metro Manila and Mindanao, with the areas listing quarterly hunger rates of 15.7 percent and 9 percent in June, respectively.
The nationwide poll was conducted through face-to-face interviews. It included a sample of 1,200 adults.
The survey had a ±3 percent error margin, and ±6 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
