MANILA - The national Social Weather Survey revealed that 14.2 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the first quarter of 2024.

This was higher than the 12.6 hunger rate seen in December 2023, SWS said.

“Yung 14 percent po ng Filipino families nationwide ay estimated 3.95 million families," said Leo Laroza, Social Weather Stations Director for Communication and Information Technology, in an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

Laroza defined involuntary hunger as "being hungry and not having anything to eat."

"It's either wala silang means ibig sabihin walang pamibili, or kahit may pambili wala namang access o walang mapagbilhan," he said.

More Filipinos suffer from hunger in December 2023: SWS

MODERATE, SEVERE HUNGER

The 14.2 percent hunger rate in March 2024 was the sum of 12.2 percent who experienced "Moderate Hunger" and 2 percent 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 December 2023, Moderate Hunger rose by 1 point from 11.2 percent, while Severe Hunger rose by 0.6 points from 1.4 percent.

The survey was conducted from March 21-25, 2024.

Families in Metro Manila were the hardest hit with 19 percent, followed by Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 15.3 percent, the Visayas at 15 percent, and Mindanao at 8.7 percent.

The 1.6-point rise in hunger between December 2023 and March 2024 was due to increases in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Balance Luzon, combined with a decline in Mindanao.

Compared to December 2023, the incidence of hunger rose significantly by 6.3 points in Metro Manila, from 12.7 percent to 19 percent.

Involuntary hunger in Mindanao fell by 3.3 points, from 12 percent to 8.7 percent.

Mas maraming Pinoy nakaranas ng involuntary hunger: SWS

"Isa sa mga tinignan namin ay yung kakayahan ng pamilya na magkaroon ng sariling pagkain o home production of food," said Laroza. "Kaya ang mapapansin nyo ang pinakamataas ay sa Metro Manila, sunod sa Luzon, sa Visayas habang pinakamababa naman sa Mindanao."

"Isang paliwanang dito... is really 'yung mga pamilya sa Mindanao kumgpara sa iba mas marami sa kanilang pagkain ay home produced. May tanim, may alagang livestock. Malaking parte ng kanilang pagkain ay galing sa kanilang bakuran, sa kanilang mga alaga."