The national Social Weather Survey of June 28-July 1, 2023, found that 10.4% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger – being hungry and not having anything to eat – at least once in the past three months.
The June 2023 Hunger figure was higher than the 9.8% in March 2023. However, it was lower than the 11.8% in December 2022.
Hunger rises in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, but falls in Mindanao
As of June 2023, the experience of hunger was highest in Metro Manila at 15.7%, followed by Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 11.3%, the Visayas at 9.3%, and Mindanao at 6.3% of families.
The 0.6-point rise in Overall Hunger between March 2023 and June 2023 was due to increases in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, combined with a steady percentage in the Visayas and a sharp decline in Mindanao.
Compared to March 2023, the incidence of hunger rose by 5.0 points in Metro Manila, from 10.7% to 15.7%.
It rose by 2.6 points in Balance Luzon, from 8.7% to 11.3%.
However, it hardly changed in the Visayas, moving from 9.7% and 9.3%.
It fell by 5.4 points in Mindanao, from 11.7% to 6.3%.
Moderate Hunger 8.3%, Severe Hunger 2.1%
The 10.4% Hunger rate in June 2023 was the sum of 8.3% who experienced Moderate Hunger and 2.1% who experienced Severe Hunger.
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.
Compared to March 2023, Moderate Hunger hardly moved from 8.6%, while Severe Hunger rose slightly from 1.2%.
In Metro Manila, Moderate Hunger rose by 2.3 points from 9.7% in March 2023 to 12.0% in June 2023, while Severe Hunger rose by 2.7 points from 1.0% to 3.7%.
In Balance Luzon, Moderate Hunger rose by 0.6 points from 7.7% to 8.3%, while Severe Hunger rose by 2.0 points from 1.0% to 3.0%.
In the Visayas, Moderate Hunger fell by 0.7 points from 9.0% to 8.3%, while Severe Hunger hardly moved from 0.7% to 1.0%.
In Mindanao, Moderate Hunger rose by 3.3 points from 9.3% to 6.0%, while Severe Hunger fell by 2.0 points from 2.3% to 0.3% .
The rate of Overall Hunger (i.e., Moderate plus Severe) rose sharply among the Non-Poor (Not Poor plus Borderline Poor) from 3.9% in March 2023 to 10.3% in June 2023. However, it fell among the Self-Rated Poor, from 15.4% to 10.8%.
The rate of Overall Hunger also rose among the Non-Food-Poor (Not Food-Poor plus Borderline Food-Poor) from 4.3% in March 2023 to 10.8% in June 2023. However, it fell significantly among the Self-Rated Food-Poor, from 18.5% to 9.4%.
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