The number of Filipinos who experienced involuntary hunger – or being hungry and having nothing to eat, at least once in the past three months – rose to 20% by the end of April, according to a recent report released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
SWS said it conducted the national survey from April 23 to 28. It released the report on Saturday.
Broken down, 16.4% of the 20% of respondents experienced moderate hunger, while 3.6% suffered from severe hunger.
“Moderate Hunger refers to those who experienced hunger ‘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 previous three months,” the SWS explained.
In connection with the country’s hunger rate, the survey also found that 50% of Filipinos rated themselves as poor.
On the other hand, 8% believed they belonged to the “Borderline” or the line dividing poor and not poor. — The Inquirer/ANN
