Hunger among Filipinos rises to 27.2%, highest since pandemic – survey

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Hunger among Filipinos rises to 27.2%, highest since pandemic – survey

HUNGER. Children line up for a meal.

Rappler

In March 2025, 27.2% of Filipino families reported involuntary hunger, the highest since the 30.7% peak recorded in September 2020, according to a Stratbase-SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines – The number of Filipinos who experience hunger has risen — the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020 — according to a survey held in March.

Based on the results of the Stratbase-Social Weather Stations national survey conducted from March 15 to 20, and released on Saturday, March 29, 27.2% of Filipino families reported involuntary hunger, the highest since the 30.7% peak recorded in September 2020.

This marks a 6-point increase from February’s 21.2%, and is 7 points higher than the 2024 annual average of 20.2%. The rise follows two consecutive months of increases, up from 15.9% in January 2025.

Of the 27.2% experiencing hunger:

6.2% suffered severe hunger (hungry often or always)
21.0% faced moderate hunger (hungry once or a few times in the past three months)

Hunger incidents increased in all regions except in Metro Manila. Visayas saw the biggest spike from 20.0% to 33.7%. Balance Luzon saw a 4.9-point increase, from 19.1% to 24.0%, while Mindanao’s hunger rate grew by 4 points, from 23.3% to 27.3%.

The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 registered voters nationwide. SWS said the sampling error margins for this survey were ±2.31% for national percentages, ±3.27% for Balance Luzon, and ±5.66% each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

“The survey items reported here were non-commissioned. They were included on SWS’s initiative and released as a public service,” SWS said.

In February, the Philippine government declared a food emergency to control the price of rice, which is a staple in a Filipino meal. In the same month, inflation cooled to 2.1%. as vegetable and rice prices fell.

A month later, on March 7, the Department of Agriculture imposed a price cap on pork in Metro Manila, but compliance remained low just a week after the policy took effect.

On March 10, the Department of Agriculture imposed a price cap on pork in Metro Manila, but compliance remained low just a week after the policy took effect. – Rappler.com