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THE national Social Weather Survey of June 28-July 1, 2023, found that 10.4% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger – being hungry and not having anything to eat – at least once in the past three months.
The June 2023 Hunger figure was higher than the 9.8% in March 2023. However, it was lower than the 11.8% in December 2022
Hunger rises in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, but falls in Mindanao
As of June 2023, the experience of hunger was highest in Metro Manila at 15.7%, followed by Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 11.3%, the Visayas at 9.3%, and Mindanao at 6.3% of families
The 0.6-point rise in Overall Hunger between March 2023 and June 2023 was due to increases in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, combined with a steady percentage in the Visayas and a sharp decline in Mindanao.
Compared to March 2023, the incidence of hunger rose by 5.0 points in Metro Manila, from 10.7% to 15.7%.
It rose by 2.6 points in Balance Luzon, from 8.7% to 11.3%.
However, it hardly changed in the Visayas, moving from 9.7% and 9.3%.
It fell by 5.4 points in Mindanao, from 11.7% to 6.3%.
Moderate Hunger 8.3%, Severe Hunger 2.1%
The 10.4% Hunger rate in June 2023 was the sum of 8.3% who experienced Moderate Hunger and 2.1% 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 March 2023, Moderate Hunger hardly moved from 8.6%, while Severe Hunger rose slightly from 1.2%.
In Metro Manila, Moderate Hunger rose by 2.3 points from 9.7% in March 2023 to 12.0% in June 2023, while Severe Hunger rose by 2.7 points from 1.0% to 3.7%
In Balance Luzon, Moderate Hunger rose by 0.6 points from 7.7% to 8.3%, while Severe Hunger rose by 2.0 points from 1.0% to 3.0%
In the Visayas, Moderate Hunger fell by 0.7 points from 9.0% to 8.3%, while Severe Hunger hardly moved from 0.7% to 1.0%.
In Mindanao, Moderate Hunger rose by 3.3 points from 9.3% to 6.0%, while Severe Hunger fell by 2.0 points from 2.3% to 0.3%. Hunger rises among the Self-Rated Non-Poor, but falls among the Self-Rated Poor
The June 2023 survey found 45% of Filipino families rating themselves as Mahirap or Poor, 33% rating themselves as Borderline (by placing themselves on a horizontal line dividing Poor and Not Poor), and 22% rated themselves as Hindi Mahirap or Not Poor (“SOCIAL WEATHER REPORT | 45% of Filipino families feel Poor, down from 51% in March; 33% feel Borderline, and 22% feel Not Poor,” July 23, 2023, www.sws.org.ph).
On the other hand, based on the quality of food eaten by their families, the June 2023 survey found 34% of families rating themselves as Food-Poor, 38% rating themselves as Food Borderline (by placing themselves on the horizontal line dividing Food-Poor and Not Food-Poor), and 29% rating themselves Not Food-Poor.
The rate of Overall Hunger (i.e., Moderate plus Severe) rose sharply among the Non-Poor (Not Poor plus Borderline Poor) from 3.9% in March 2023 to 10.3% in June 2023. However, it fell among the Self-Rated Poor, from 15.4% to 10.8%.
The rate of Overall Hunger also rose among the Non-Food-Poor (Not Food-Poor plus Borderline Food-Poor) from 4.3% in March 2023 to 10.8% in June 2023. However, it fell significantly among the Self-Rated Food-Poor, from 18.5% to 9.4%
Survey background
The Second Quarter 2023 Social Weather Survey was conducted from June 28-July 1, 2023, using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 600 in Balance Luzon, and 300 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Face-to-face is the standard interviewing method for Social Weather Stations; the only exceptions were early in the pandemic when movement restrictions made face-to-face impossible and mobile phone interviews were conducted. Normal face-to-face field operations resumed in November 2020. The sampling error margins are ±2.5% for national percentages, ±4.0% in Balance Luzon, and ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2023 to obtain the national estimates.
The SWS survey questions on the family’s experience of Hunger, Self-Rated Poverty, and Self-Rated Food Poverty are directed to household heads. These items are non-commissioned and are included on SWS’s initiative and released as a public service.
