Bloating Hunger and Poverty

More Filipinos are Starving

• One-fifth of Filipinos have gone hungry. Among respondents of the March 4-7, 2011 poll, 20.5% of respondents – or approximately 4.1 million families – have claimed to have gone hungry at least once in the past three months. The current record is up from the 18.1% level last year.
• Hunger levels hit record highs. Hunger is almost seven points above the 12-year average of 13.8%. Moderate hunger hit a record 18.7% in Balance Luzon, overtaking the record of 18.1% in March 2010. Severe hunger also hit a record high of 6.3% in Balance Luzon, surpassing the 6% hit in December 2008.
• Who are getting hungrier? The rise in overall hunger was driven by increases for both moderate hunger (15.7% from 15%) and severe hunger (4.1% from 3.7%). By area, Balance Luzon was the hardest hit (25% from 18.3%).

 More Filipinos Consider Themselves Poor

• More than half of Filipinos consider themselves poor. Among respondents, 51% – or approximately 10.4 million families – consider themselves mahirap (poor). The current level is two points up from last year’s 49%.
• All self-rated poverty levels rose except in Metro Manila. Self-rated poverty increased in Visayas (61% from 53%), in Mindanao (49% from 44%), and in Balance Luzon (54% from 51%). Only rates in Metro Manila fell (34% from 44%). Poverty rose four points to 59% in rural areas and by three points to 45% in urban areas.
• All self-rated food poverty levels rose except in Metro Manila. Self-rated food poverty fell by four points to 24% in Metro Manila but increased elsewhere: 12 points to 51% in the Visayas, four points to 42% in Balance Luzon and by four points to 38% in Mindanao.
• Filipinos are tightening belts. The Self-Rated Poverty Threshold, the monthly budget that poor households need in order not to consider themselves poor in general, remains sluggish for years despite inflation. This indicates that poor families have been lowering their living standards.

The Setback and the Government’s Solution

•  Filipinos Experienced a Lot of Shocks. Troubles surfaced in the Middle East. Food prices also increased over the past quarter.
• Sustainable Livelihood schemes were initiated. The government continued to undertake the conditional cash transfers and the KALAHI-CIDSS community development program to aid poor Filipinos.

Source:

“Hunger keeps rising, poverty also up – SWS.” Business World, 8 April 2011, from http://www.bworldonline.com.