World · Philippines Bureau
Involuntary hunger among Filipino families surges to 22.6 percent
More Filipino families are experiencing involuntary hunger as living costs continue to rise, with the incidence rate climbing to 22.6 percent in September from 20.3 percent in June, according to a new Social Weather Stations survey.
LSN Philippines ·
The sharp increase in food insecurity reflects the sustained pressure on household budgets from elevated inflation during the third quarter of the year. The Social Weather Stations released the findings Wednesday, highlighting growing economic strain across Filipino households.
The 2.3 percentage point jump from June to September underscores the impact of rising prices on families' ability to afford basic food needs. The September reading of 22.6 percent also represents a year-on-year deterioration in food security conditions, suggesting the problem has worsened compared to the same period in the previous year.
Involuntary hunger—defined as the inability to purchase sufficient food due to lack of money—is considered a key indicator of household poverty and economic distress. The latest figures suggest millions of Filipino families are struggling to meet their basic nutritional requirements amid persistent inflationary pressures.
The data adds to growing concerns about the cost of living crisis affecting the country, with food prices remaining a primary concern for households across income levels.