Some 500,000 less Filipino households experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months, bringing down the total number of families who experienced involuntary hunger to 3.2 million, the third quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results showed.

The nationwide survey found that hunger among Filipinos eased to 17.5 percent, or an estimated 3.2 million families in the past three months, from 20.3 percent, or an estimated 3.7 million families in the June 2009 SWS survey.

Although the number of Filipinos who experienced hunger in the past three months decreased, SWS said the latest hunger figure is still five points above the 11-year average of 12.9 percent.

The survey conducted last Sept. 18 to 21 asked 1,800 respondents to answer a question that specified “hunger due to lack of anything to eat.”

The SWS questions about household hunger are directed to the household head, using the phrase "experienced hunger, and did not have anything to eat” (nakaranas ng gutom at wala kayong makain).

SWS said the 2.8-point decline in overall hunger between June 2009 and September 2009 resulted from a 1.5-point decline in moderate hunger, combined with a 1.3-point decline in severe hunger.

Moderate hunger referred to those who experienced it “only once” or “a few times” in the last three months.

SWS found that moderate hunger went from 16 percent, or an estimated 2.9 million families in June, to 14.5 percent, or an estimated 2.7 million families in September.

The latest figure is five points above the 11-year average moderate hunger rate of 9.5 percent.

SWS said the few who did not state their frequency of hunger were also placed in this category.

Meanwhile, severe hunger, which referred to those who experienced it “often” or “always” in the last three months, went from 4.3 percent or about 790,000 families in June to three percent or an estimated 550,000 families in September.

The latest figure is below the 11-year average severe hunger rate of 3.4 percent.

SWS noted that overall hunger declined significantly by over 10 points in Mindanao from 30 percent or an estimated 1.3 million families in June to 19.7 percent or 800,000 families in September.

Meanwhile, it declined by two points in the Visayas, from 21 percent or 775,000 families to 19 percent or 700,000 families and by almost one point in balance Luzon, from 14.3 percent or 1.2 million families to 13.5 percent or some 1.1 million families.

Hunger rose by over two points in Metro Manila, from 22.3 percent or about 550,000 families to 24.7 percent or 600,000 families.

For moderate hunger, it declined by almost nine points in Mindanao, from a 25.3 percent in the previous quarter to 16.7 percent at present, and by almost three points in the Visayas, from 18.7 percent to 16.1 percent.

Meanwhile, it rose by almost four points in Metro Manila, from 15.3 percent to 19 percent, and by one point in balance Luzon, from 10.2 percent to 11.3 percent.

SWS said the latest moderate hunger rates are higher than their 11-year averages for all areas.

For severe hunger, it declined by two points in balance Luzon, from 4.2 percent in June to 2.2 percent in September, by two points in Mindanao, from 4.7 percent to three percent, and by over one point in Metro Manila, from seven percent to 5.7 percent.

However, it rose by almost one point in the Visayas, from 2.3 percent in the previous quarter to 2.9 percent at present.

SWS said the new severe hunger rates are now lower than their 11-year averages for all areas except in Metro Manila, where the latest score of 5.7 percent is higher than its 11-year average of 3.4 percent.