SWS Hunger Survey (2011 Second Quarter)

Hunger Declines to Record Level in Philippines

Hunger rate in the Philippines declined to 15.1 percent in June, its lowest level since the second quarter of 2007 when it was 14.7 percent, according to the second quarter Social Weather Station survey in 2011.

• An estimated 3 million households, or 15. 1 percent, experience involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, according to the survey fielded on June 3-6. The figure represents a 5.4-point drop from 20.5 percent, or 4.1 million households, in March.
• Of the 15. 1 percent estimate for the second quarter of 2011, 13. 1 percent, or 2.6 million families, experience moderate hunger, while 2 percent experienced severe hunger. The number of those who experience moderate hunger, or “only once” or “a few times” over the last three months, declined by 2.6 points  from 15.7 percent, or 3.2 million families, from the previous quarter. Those who experience severe hunger, or “often” or “always” in the last three months, dropped by 2.7 points from 4.7 percent, or 950,000 households, from the previous quarter. This is the lowest severe hunger rate since 2003.

Fewer Going Hungry in Luzon, NCR

• Over-all hunger rate in Balance Luzon plummeted by 15.3 points to 9.7 percent, or 845,000 families, in June 2011. The figure represents a sharp decline from the record-high of 25 percent, or 2.2 million families, in March 2011. This is also the first time hunger rate in the region hit single digit since December 2004.
• Moderate hunger in Balance Luzon also reached its lowest level in June since December 2004, and was below the 13-year average of 10 percent. Moderate hunger in the region reached 7.7 percent in June, down by 11 points from the record-high 18.7 percent in March 2011.
• In Metro Manila, over-all hunger rate decreased by 7.7 points to 13 percent, or 366,000 families in June 2011 from 20.7 percent, or 580,000 families, in March. Over-all hunger rate in the region reached more than 20 percent from June 2010 to March 2011.
• Moderate hunger in Metro Manila decreased by 5.4 points to 11.3 percent in June 2011 from 16.7 percent in March.

 Hunger Rises in Visayas, Mindanao

• In June 2011, over-all hunger rate in Visayas rose to 21 percent, or 804,000 families, from 14.7 percent, or 560,000 families, in March.  This is the first time the region’s hunger rate rose to more than 20 percent since October 2009 to June 2010.
• Over-all hunger in Mindanao rose to 21.7 percent, or 1 million families, in June 2011 from 16.7 percent, or 795,000 families, in March. This is the first time the region’s hunger rate rose to more than 20 percent since October 2009 to June 2010.
• Moderate hunger in Visayas increased by 8.6 points to 18.3 percent in June 2011 from 9.7 percent in March.
•  Moderate hunger in Mindanao rose by 5.3 points to 20 percent in June 2011 from 14.7 percent in March.
• The new moderate hunger rates are higher than their 13-year averages in all areas but Balance Luzon.

 Severe Hunger Declines in All Areas

• The new severe hunger rates are higher than their 13-year averages in all areas.
• Severe hunger rate in Balance Luzon dropped from a record-high 6.3 percent in March 2011 to 2 percent in June 2011, its lowest level since June 2006.
• Severe hunger rate in Metro Manila dropped from 4 percent in March 2011 to 1.7 percent in June 2011, its lowest level since May 2005.
• In Visayas, severe hunger rate declined to 2.7 percent in June 2011 from 5 percent in March.
• Severe hunger rate in Mindanao dropped from 2 percent in March 2011 to 1.7 percent in June 2011, its lowest level since June 2007.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interview among 1,200 adults in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages and ±6 percent for area percentages.

Source:

SWS Hunger Survey, June 2011, (SWS website: www.sws.org.ph)