Phl making strides in reducing hunger – report

WASHINGTON – The Philippines has made some progress in reducing hunger over the years but 17 percent of its population is still undernourished, the International Food Policy Research Institute  (FPRI) said.

In its 2013 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report released last Monday, the IFPRI said the hunger situation in the Philippines remained “serious.” The country’s hunger index over the period of 2008 to 2012 was rated at 13.2 from 14.0 in the period of 2003 to 2007.

The index identifies hunger levels among 120 developing countries and countries in transition and rates them based on three equally weighted indicators: the proportion of people who are undernourished; the proportion of children under five who are underweight; and the mortality rate of children under five.

During the periods under review, the percentage of people undernourished in the Philippines dropped to 17 points from 18 previously, the prevalence of underweight children under five also fell to 20.2 from 20.7, and their mortality rate dropped to 2.5 from 3.2.

Of the 120 countries surveyed, 42 had GHI levels of under five, meaning the threat of hunger was low.

A total of 78 countries had GHI levels of 5.5 to 38.8.

The report said 16 countries with GHI scores of 20 to 29.9 were suffering from “alarming” hunger levels while three countries – Comoros, Eritrea and Burundi – with GHI scores above 30 had “extremely alarming” hunger levels.

The Philippines and 36 other countries with GHI scores between 10 and 19.9 were suffering “serious” hunger levels.

In the “moderate” hunger level categories, or countries with GHIs between 5.0 and 9.9, were Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.