At least 5.2 million Filipino families—around 20.9 percent of the population—experienced hunger once in the past three months, the highest recorded since September 2014, according to a recent survey by Social Weather Stations.
The polling firm held its survey from July 3 to 6 and it involved 1,555 respondents. It showed hunger increasing by 4.2 points, or from 16.7 percent in May 2020 and 12.1 points from 8.8 percent in December 2019.
The rate is the highest since the 4.8 million families registered in September 2014.
The 20.9-percent rate in early July represented Moderate to Severe Hunger. SWS defines Moderate Hunger as “those who experienced hunger only once or a few times” in the last three months, while those who experienced Severe Hunger went through it “often or always.”
SWS said 15.8 percent or an estimated 3.9 million families experienced “Moderate Hunger,” while 5.1 percent or an estimated 1.3 million families experienced “Severe Hunger.”
The polling firm said Moderate Hunger rose from 13.9 percent in May 2020 to 15.8 percent in July 2020—the highest since the 17.6 percent or an estimated 3.8 million families registered in September 2014.
The Visayas posted the highest hunger rate with an estimated 27.2 percent or 1.3 million families suffering from a lack of food, while Mindanao had 24.2 percent and Luzon 17.8 percent.
SWS found that hunger was higher among the households with a low socio-economic status and educational attainment.
The hunger incidence rose among the households of non-elementary graduate respondents, or up from 21.1 percent to 35.6 percent.
SWS gathered its data through mobile phone interviews of adult Filipinos who were 18 years old and above.
The polling firm said the sampling had an error margin of ±2 percent for national percentages, ±6 percent for Metro Manila, ±5 percent for Balance Luzon, ±5 percent for the Visayas and ±5 percent for Mindanao.
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