The national Social Weather Survey (SWS) of September 29 – October 2, 2022, the first under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., found that 11.3% of Filipino families, or an estimated 2.9 million, experienced involuntary hunger – being hungry and not having anything to eat – at least once in the past three months.
The October 2022 Hunger rate is similar to 11.6% (estimated 2.9 million families) in June 2022, but slightly below the 12.2% (estimated 3.1 million families) in April 2022 and 11.8% (estimated 3.0 million families) in December 2021.
However, it is still 1.3 points above the 10% (estimated 2.5 million families) in September 2021, and 2.0 points above the pre-pandemic annual average of 9.3% in 2019 .
SWS: Hunger falls in Balance Luzon, but rises in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao
The experience of hunger is highest in Metro Manila at 16.3% of families, followed by Mindanao at 15.3%, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 9.6%, and the Visayas at 7.0%. It has been highest in Metro Manila in 25 out of 99 surveys since July 1998.
The 0.3-point decline in Overall Hunger between June 2022 and October 2022 is due to a decline in Balance Luzon, combined with increases in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
Compared to June 2022, the incidence of Hunger fell by 2.3 points in Balance Luzon, from 11.9% (est. 1.4 million families) in June 2022 to 9.6% (est. 1.1 million families) in October 2022, SWS reported.
However, it rose by 1.6 points in Metro Manila, from 14.7% (est. 501,000 families) in June 2022 to 16.3% (est. 558,000 families) in October 2022.
It rose by 1.3 points in the Visayas, from 5.7% (est. 272,000 families) in June 2022 to 7.0% (est. 336,000 families) in October 2022.
It also rose by 1.3 points in Mindanao, from 14.0% (est. 816,000 families) in June 2022 to 15.3% (est. 893,000 families) in October 2022.
SWS: Moderate Hunger 9.1%, Severe Hunger 2.2%
The 11.3% Hunger rate in October 2022 is the sum of 9.1% (est. 2.3 million families) who experienced Moderate Hunger and 2.2% (est. 573,000 families) 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 last three months.
In June 2022, Moderate Hunger was 9.4% (est. 2.4 million families), and Severe Hunger was 2.1% (est. 546,000 families).
In Metro Manila, Moderate Hunger fell by 0.6 points from 11.3% in June 2022 to 10.7% in October 2022. However, Severe Hunger rose by 2.4 points from 3.3% to 5.7%.
In Balance Luzon, Moderate Hunger fell by 1.3 points from 9.4% in June 2022 to 8.1% in October 2022, while Severe Hunger fell by 1.0 points from 2.5% to 1.5%.
In the Visayas, Moderate Hunger rose by 1.3 points from 5.0% in June 2022 to 6.3% in October 2022, while Severe Hunger stayed at 0.7%.
In Mindanao, Moderate Hunger rose by 0.3 points from 12.0% in June 2022 to 12.3% in October 2022, while Severe Hunger rose by 1.0 points from 2.0% to 3.0%.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.