The latest Social Weather Stations survey reported that approximately 3.1 million families experienced involuntary hunger in April, up from three million families in December last year.
That figure brings the hunger rate to 12.2 percent from 11.8 percent at the end of 2021. The good news is that the latest rate is lower than the 13.1 percent average for 2021.
SWS defines involuntary hunger as being hungry and not having anything to eat at least once in the past three months. Between the months of December and April, hunger rose 11.7 percent from 9.2 percent in Luzon, and to 13.1 percent from 12.2 percent in Mindanao. The rate went down to 18.6 percent from 22.8 percent in Metro Manila and to 7.8 percent from 9.7 percent in Visayas.
According to SWS, moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times” over the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experience it “often” or “always” during the same period.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the increase in the number of hungry Filipinos to 12.2 percent was due to the nonstop increase in fuel prices. However, he said government has formed in January 2020 the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger to reduce hunger incidence among Filipino families. The task force aims to ensure a whole-of-government approach to eradicating hunger and achieving food security.
With the latest survey showing that hunger is still on an upswing, even as the country is starting to recover from the devastating hunger felt by millions of Filipinos who had to endure agonizing lockdowns and restrictions during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, it is looking like the Zero Hunger task force will have to buckle down and work harder, as lip service obviously isn’t enough.
Hunger and poverty are closely interrelated and whatever government task force that is dedicated to eradicating hunger will have to elevate millions from their living conditions, which means more than just dole outs like the famed nutribun that symbolized the hunger during that dark part of the country’s history. Whatever that whole of government approach is, if it is being implemented, will need to do more, especially during these uncertain times when the cost of living feels like it is shooting out of control.*
