By Juliane Judilla
A research group has raised alarm over the rising levels of involuntary hunger in the Philippines, which have more than doubled under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
In a report by IBON Foundation, data from Social Weather Stations showed hunger increased from 11.6 percent of families, or about 2.9 million households, in June 2022 to 27.2 percent, or roughly 7.5 million families, by March 2025.
IBON attributed the sharp rise to the government’s failure to address key issues such as inadequate wages and surging prices.
“The rise in hunger is a wake-up call that many Filipinos are struggling on meager incomes and with the high cost of living,” the group said in a statement.
“This shows that the government’s rhetoric of economic gains and a robust jobs market is empty—just like the bellies of millions of hungry Filipinos,” it added.
IBON cited low wages and high prices as primary factors behind the hunger spike.
The group noted that the average daily minimum wage, currently at PHP469, falls far below the PHP1,227 daily family living wage for a family of five, as estimated in February 2025.
This wage gap has put immense pressure on households and driven many toward food insecurity.
IBON also highlighted a steep rise in households without savings.
Citing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data, the group said 20.1 million households—or 74 percent—reported having no savings in the fourth quarter of 2024.
This suggests that a growing number of Filipinos are living paycheck to paycheck, with no financial buffer against economic shocks.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority also showed food prices rose 16 percent between June 2022 and February 2025.
This continued price hike has made it harder for low-income families to afford basic necessities.
IBON said the rise in food costs is worsening the burden on vulnerable households and contributing to the hunger surge.
The report urged the government to address the root causes of hunger and poverty by raising wages and curbing inflation.
Without urgent reforms, IBON warned that millions of Filipinos could face even deeper food insecurity in the years ahead.
