1 M fewer families went hungry in 2014 – SWS

MANILA, Philippines - About one million fewer families experienced hunger in the last quarter of 2014, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey.

The survey found 17.2 percent of adult respondents (an estimated 3.8 million households) saying they have experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the fourth quarter of last year, lower than the 22 percent (about 4.8 million families) recorded in September, the SWS said.

The poll was conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 adults nationwide.

“Hunger” refers to involuntary suffering as respondents were asked on such experience due to lack of food to eat. Survey questions were directed at household heads.

The 17.2 percent hunger rate is comprised of the 13.2 percent (or an estimated 2.9 million families) who experienced “moderate” hunger and 4.1 percent (an estimated 888,000 families) who experienced “severe” hunger.

Moderate hunger refers to those who experience having nothing to eat “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months, while severe hunger pertains to those who experience it “often” or “always” in the last three months.

Last year’s average hunger rate, however, was just 1.2 points lower than the 19.5 percent recorded in 2013.

But it was the lowest annual result since 2007’s 17.9 percent, the SWS noted.

The pollster said “moderate” hunger fell by 4.4 points from 17.6 percent (an estimated 3.8 million families) in December, while “severe” hunger dipped by a nearly flat 0.3 of a point from 4.4 percent (970,000 families).

The few who did not state frequency of hunger were counted in the “moderate” category, it said.

The country’s hunger rate improved across geographic areas, the SWS said. It said biggest drops were recorded in Metro Manila and balance Luzon during the period.

It fell by 7.3 points in Metro Manila to 14.7 percent (estimated at 438,000 families) from 22 percent (estimated 654,000 families), bringing the 2014 average in the capital to 16 percent, 7.5 percent below the 2013 average of 23.5 percent. It was also the lowest recorded in the metropolis since 2006’s 16 percent.

Hunger also fell by six points in balance Luzon to 18.3 percent (estimated at 1.8 million families) from the 24.3 percent (2.4 million families). However, the area’s 2014 average of 19.3 percent was a point above the 2013 average.

In the Visayas, hunger dropped by 2.3 points to 16.4 percent (estimated 690,000 families) from 18.7 percent (estimated 786,000 families) in the third quarter, bringing the full year average in the area to 16.6 percent, or 0.5 of a point above 2013’s 16.1 percent.