Hunger among Pinoys decreases – poll
Ethiopia overtakes PH as 12th most populous nation – POPCOM
The number of Filipinos who experienced hunger in the past three months has decreased to 9.5 percent or by an estimated 2.2 million families – the lowest hunger rating in the country since March 2004, the second quarter 2017 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results revealed.
The nationwide survey conducted last June 23-26 among 1,200 respondents found 9.5 percent of Filipinos experienced hunger at least once in the past three months.
It is slightly lower than the 11.9 percent or an estimated 2.7 million families in March 2017.
The respondents were particularly asked, “Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nangyari po ba kahit minsan na ang inyong pamilya ay nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain? Oo o hindi? (In the last three months, did it happen even once that your family experienced hunger and not have anything to eat? Yes or no?)”
SWS said “the measure of hunger refers to involuntary suffering because the respondents answer a survey question that specifies hunger due to lack of food to eat” and that respondents were asked whether they experienced it “once, a few times, often, or always.”
Moderate hunger slipped to 7.9 percent (1.8 million families) in June, while severe hunger dropped to 1.6 percent (374,000 families).
In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said: “The Palace is pleased to announce the recent Social Weather Stations survey showing the lowest hunger level from among the Filipino families in 13 years.”
“We certainly made headways in alleviating poverty and bringing prosperity in our first year in office,” he said.
PH ranked 13th In another development, the Philippines was recently been dethroned by Ethiopia as the 12th country with the largest population in the world, according to the Commission on Population (POPCOM).
Citing data from the United Nations, POPCOM Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III said the Philippines is now just ranked the 13th most populated country globally after registering only 103.7 million population this year against Ethiopia’s 104.3 million. (With reports from Genalyn D. Kabiling and Samuel P. Medenilla)