MORE Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger or did not have anything to eat at least once in the second quarter of the year, the June 23 to July 1 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The polling firm found that 17.6 percent went hungry or had nothing to eat in June, up 3.4 points from the 14.2 percent recorded in March.
This is composed of 12.8 percent (almost unchanged from 12.2 percent in March) who experienced moderate hunger or not being able to eat at least once or a few times in the last three months and 4.9 percent (up from 2 percent) who suffered severe hunger or not being able to eat often or always.
SWS said hunger remains highest in Metro Manila at 20 percent (up from 19 percent), followed by Luzon with 19. 6 percent (up from 15.3 percent), Mindanao with 15.7 percent (up from 9.7 percent and the Visayas with 13.7 percent (down from 16 percent).
It added that hunger also rose among those who rated their families as poor with 21.3 percent (from 19.3 percent) and food-poor with 23 percent (from 21.3 percent).
The survey results were released a day after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos Jr., where he highlighted the need to invest in the inclusive development of the Filipino people, which includes food and nutrition under the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program.”
The President had said that “Walang Gutom 2027” will be fully rolled out from the initial 2,300 households last year to 300,000 food-poor households this year.
The program aims to feed one million food-poor families by 2027.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed confidence that one million Food Stamp Program targets in the next three years is doable, especially with the full support of Marcos.
Under the program, food-poor families will receive a P3,000 food voucher every month until 2027 through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that they can use to purchase select food commodities from eligible partner merchant stores.
The program started last year with an initial 2,285 beneficiaries for six months which will be raised to 300,000 this year. Another 300,000 food-poor families will be added in 2025, and another 400,000 in 2026.
The pilot implementation was held in Tondo, Manila; San Mariano, Isabela; Dapa, Siargao; Garchitorena, Camarines Sur; and Parang, Maguindanao.
It will be expanded to 10 regions, including Tondo in Manila in the National Capital Region (NCR); Isabela in Cagayan Valley; Camarines Sur and Sorsogon in Bicol; Negros Occidental in Western Visayas; Cebu and Negros Oriental in Central Visayas; and Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar in Region Eastern Visayas.
It will also be implemented in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay in the Zamboanga Peninsula; Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and Maguindanao in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte in Northern Mindanao; Cotabato City in Soccsksargen, and Surigao del Norte in Caraga.
For the FSP’s full implementation this year, a funding of P1.89 billion has been set aside.
