3.3 M families in RP went hungry - SWS

CEBU - About 3.3 million Filipino families or 18.4 percent went hungry at least once in the last three months, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The latest figure on hunger is higher than the 16.3 percent recorded in the June 2008 survey, the SWS said.

The latest hunger record is also six points above the 10-year average of 12.3 percent, and is the highest in the four quarters after the record-high 21.5 percent in September 2007, according to the Third Quarter 2008 Social Weather Survey, fielded over Sept. 24 to 27.

The non-commissioned survey found that moderate hunger, referring to those who experienced it “only once” or “a few times” in the past three months, rose from 12.1 percent (estimated 2.2 million families) in June to 15.2 percent (estimated 2.7 million families) in September.

“The latest score is six points above the 10-year average moderate hunger rate of nine percent. The few who did not state their frequency of hunger were also placed in this category,” the SWS said.

On the other hand, severe hunger, referring to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the last three months, went from 4.2 percent (about 760,000 families) in June to 3.2 percent (about 580,000 families) in September.

“The new rate is equal to the 10-year average severe hunger rate of 3.3 percent,” the SWS said.SWS said the hunger average of 2008 is 16.8 percent, only slightly lower than the 2007 average of 17.9 percent. — Philippine Star News Service (THE FREEMAN)