Hungry Filipino families fewer in Q1 of 2018 — SWS

Fewer Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger during the first quarter of 2018, as shown in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The poll, which ran from March 23 to 27, showed that the number of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months went down to 9.9 percent or approximately 2.3 million families. In December 2017, a similar survey found that 15.9 percent or about 3.6 million households have experienced involuntary hunger.

Hunger incidence also took a dive, dropping by 2 points from 11.9 percent or around 2.7 million families who said that they experienced involuntary hunger in the same period the previous year.

The March reading is the second time that hunger has been recorded at a single-digit range since the 7.4 percent in March 2004. And since March 2004, the lowest reading was documented in June 2017 at 9.5 percent or approximately 2.2 million Filipino households.

The decrease in hunger level was seen across the country. Since the last survey in December 2017, the number dropped from 14.7 percent to 6 percent in March in Metro Manila; 17.7 percent to 11 percent in Balance Luzon; 13.3 percent to 13 percent in Visayas; and 15.3 percent to 7.33 percent in the Mindanao region.

The first quarter survey by the SWS was conducted through face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults.

via The Philippine Star / Gaea Katreena Cabico