Hunger continues to stalk in Philippines, surveys show

The administration of former President Benigno Aquino has failed to stamp out poverty as the number of Filipinos who went hungry continues to steadily rise, according to a recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations.

The SWS survey, published by Inquirer newspaper on Tuesday, also showed that the number of jobless adults swelled by nearly 2 million in the first quarter of this year.

"The First Quarter 2016 Social Weather Survey, conducted via face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide from March 30 to April 2, showed the number of those who experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the preceding three months grew to 3.1 million families from the 2.6 million families estimated in the December survey, making the total hunger rate edge up to two points to 13.7 percent from 11.7 percent," the survey said.

It added "The first-quarter total hunger rate -- steady from the 13.5 percent logged in March last year and the 13.4 percent average for 2015 -- consisted of 11.6 percent (2.6 million families) who said they experienced "moderate hunger" (going hungry "only one" or "a few times" in the last three months) and 2.1 percent (481,000 families) who suffered "severed hunger" ("often" or "always" in the last three months)."

Hunger rate rose six points in Mindanao in the southern Philippines to 19 percent or an estimated 978,000 families for 13 percent or 658,000 in December, the survey said. In Metro Manila, the survey said hunger rate eased from 17 percent or 513,000 families to 14 percent or 429,000 families during the same period.

In the Visayas region in the southern Philippines, the survey said that hunger rate dipped one point to 10.3 percent or 449,000 families from 11.3 percent or 484,000 families. In Luzon areas outside the nation's capital, it said the rate rose to 12.3 percent or 1.2 million families from 9.7 percent or 952,000 families.

The survey also shows that nearly two million more Filipino adults were out of job during the first quarter, saying that while the rate relatively steadied from 2015's final three months, it was still the highest in about a year.

"The first-quarter survey found joblessness rate at 23.9 percent (or an estimated 11 million adults), 2.5 points more than the 21.4 percent (or 9.1 million adults) in the December 2015 survey and the highest since December 2014's 27 percent,"the survey says.

The survey also shows that net optimism on job availability 12 months ahead dropped by remained "high."

The Philippine Statistics Office, a government agency, reported in March said that in the first semester of last year, 26.3 percent of Filipinos were living below the poverty line, a measure of the minimum income required to meet the basic necessities. During the same period in 2012, it said poverty incidence among Filipinos was recorded at 27.9 percent. In 2009, it was 28.6 percent, while in 2006 it was 28.8 percent.

The 2015 PSA survey also found that 12.1 percent of Filipinos or roughly 12.18 million live in extreme poverty, meaning that their incomes were not enough to buy three square meals a day.

Poverty incidence is high in the rural areas, especially in conflict-risen areas in Mindanao.

Indeed the government statistics have proven that Aquino failed to stamp out poverty during his term.

The Asian Development Outlook, the annual publication of the Manila-based Asian Development bank (ADB) released in March, said "Poverty incidence declined during 2013, though a quarter of the population remained poor, reflecting the need for more and better jobs."

"In the first half of 2014, poverty incidence was reported at 25.8 percent, compared with 24.6 percent in the same period in 2013, rising largely due to higher food prices and damage to livelihoods caused by typhoons," the ADB said.

The bank said that "higher rates of investment are needed to build on recent gains and raise employment to reduce poverty."

"While the Philippines has posted solid growth in recent years, unemployment and underemployment remain high,"the ADB said, adding that 2.6 million Filipinos remain jobless in 2015 and 6.5 million more are underemployed.

An average 1 million new workers join the workforce each year in this country of 100.98 million people.

"The situation has changed very little," said a Philippine Daily Inquirer editorial in March when the PSA released the statistics, adding that poverty "remains the one that overshadows the economic achievements of the Aquino administration."

Aquino ended his six-year, single term on June 30.

"At the end of a six-year term highlighted by enviable economic growth that began in 2010, more than 26 million Filipinos remain poor. And nearly half or more than 12 million of them live in extreme poverty and without the means to feed themselves," the editorial said.

The ADB report said the Philippines continues to lag behind its neighbors in luring investors to sink in their capital in the country.

"A key constraint on growth stems from the inadequate past investment in infrastructure," the report said. Endit