THE Social Weather Station (SWS) survey said that the Philippines’ hunger incidence had increased during the last quarter of 2023.

According to the poll that was conducted from December 8 to December 11, it showed that the number of Filipino families who experienced involuntary hunger — or being hungry and not having anything to eat at least once in the past three months — rose from 9.8% in September 2023 to 12.6% in December 2023. 

The SWS explained that from the figure of 12.6%, some 11.2% of Filipino families experienced moderate hunger and 1.4% experienced severe hunger. 

Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the previous three months. 

Likewise the SWS said that the survey showed that the increase in hunger incidence is recorded all over the country except Metro Manila. 

Balance Luzon — or the areas outside Metro Manila — reported the highest increase at 14.3%. It was followed by Metro Manila at 12.7%, Mindanao at 12.0%, and the Visayas at 9.3%. 

The hunger rate in Metro Manila declined from 17.3% to 12.7%. 

Meanwhile, the poll said the Philippines’ annual hunger rate also increased to 10.7% in December 2023 — below the year-on-year rate of 11.7% but still above the pre-pandemic hunger incidence rate of 9.3% in 2019.