The Social Weather Stations (SWS) non-commissioned survey for the third quarter of 2024 revealed an increase in involuntary hunger among Filipino families compared to the second quarter.

Based on the results released on Thursday, Oct. 17, 22.9 percent of Filipino families reported experiencing involuntary hunger—defined as being hungry and not having anything to eat—at least once in the past three months.

It showed a 5.3-point increase from the 17.6 percent recorded in June 2024. It is also the highest rate since the 30.7 percent reported during the Covid-19 lockdowns in September 2020. 

Significant increases in Visayas, Mindanao

Mindanao recorded the highest hunger rate at 30.7 percent, followed by the Visayas at 26 percent, Metro Manila at 21.7 percent, and Balance Luzon (Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 18.1 percent.

This is a notable shift from the second quarter of 2024 when Metro Manila had the highest hunger incidence.

SWS attributed the overall 5.3-point increase from June to September to sharp increases in Mindanao (from 15.7 percent to 30.7 percent) and the Visayas (from 13.7 percent to 26 percent), combined with a slight rise in Metro Manila (from 20 percent to 21.7 percent) and a slight decline in Balance Luzon (from 19.6 percent to 18.1 percent).

Rise in ‘severe hunger’ across most areas

SWS pointed out that the 22.9 percent hunger rate in September consists of 16.8 percent of families experiencing “moderate hunger” and 6.1 percent facing “severe hunger.”

Moderate hunger refers to those who felt hunger “only once or a few times” in the past three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it “often or always.”

From June to September, moderate hunger increased from 12.8 percent to 16.8 percent, while severe hunger rose from 4.9 percent to 6.1 percent.

In Metro Manila, moderate hunger remained steady at 13.3 percent, while severe hunger increased from 6.7 percent to 8.3 percent.

In Balance Luzon, moderate hunger decreased from 14.5 percent to 13 percent, while severe hunger stayed at 5.1 percent.

In the Visayas, moderate hunger surged from 10.7 percent to 20 percent, while severe hunger rose from 3 percent to 6 percent.

In Mindanao, moderate hunger increased significantly from 10.7 percent to 24 percent, while severe hunger rose from 5 percent to 6.7 percent.

The SWS survey was conducted from Sept. 14 to 23 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults aged 18 and above nationwide.