(Eagle News)–Fewer families experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2018, the Social Weather Stations said.
The SWS said the 9.9 percent of Filipino families who experienced involuntary hunger at least once from January to March was 6.0 points below the 15.9 percent quarterly hunger survey result in December 2017.
“This is only the second time hunger has been in the single-digit range since March 2004,” the SWS said.
According to the pollster, the 9.9 percent quarterly hunger is the sum of 8.6% (around 2.0 million families) who experienced moderate hunger and 1.3% (around 306,000 families) who experienced severe hunger.
The SWS said moderate hunger is defined as hunger experienced “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the last three months.
Those who did not state their frequency of hunger were classified under moderate hunger, according to the pollster.
Results of the survey showed Metro Manila had the fewest families who felt hunger in the last three months at 6 percent (190,000 families).
In Visayas, 13 percent felt involuntary hunger; 11 percent in Balance Luzon; and 7.3 percent in Mindanao.
The survey conducted from March 23 to 27 used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults: 300 each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Sampling error margins were pegged at ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.