SWS: Hunger rate in December 2019 lowest in 15 years

(Eagle News)–The percentage  of Filipino families who experienced involuntary hunger in December 2019 dropped to 8.8 percent, the lowest in 15 years, a Social Weather Stations survey found.

The SWS said the December 2019 hunger rate, which translates to 2.1 million families, was lower than the 9.1 percent hunger rate recorded in September of 2019, and lower than the 7.4 percent in March 2004.

The December 2019 rate also represented a decline from the rates recorded in March 2019,  9.5 percent, and in June, 10.0 percent.

The pollster said the 0.3-point decline in the quarterly national hunger rate from September 2019 was due to a 1.8-point decrease in Balance Luzon, combined with increases of 1 point in Metro Manila, 0.6 point in the Visayas, and 0.8 point in Mindanao.

The fourth quarter 2019 survey was conducted from December 13 to 16, 2019 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Sampling error margins were pegged at  ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.