DSWD exec downplays rising hunger rates: ‘Public perception’ (2025)

MANILA, Philippines — The government continues to carry out programs that seek to lower the rate of hunger in the Philippines, and the latest survey showing a sharp rise in the number of Filipinos experiencing hunger is mainly based on public perception, a social welfare official said on Monday.

At a press briefing in Malacañang, however, Undersecretary Irene Dumlao clarified that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is optimistic that the social protection programs will soon improve the country’s hunger rate.

“Yes, [the survey numbers may be rising] but that is public perception, based on varying context,” Dumlao said.

Dumlao made the statement in response to the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Saturday, which showed that 52 percent, or around 14.4 million Filipino families, rated themselves as poor.

Self-rated poverty among Filipino families also rose to 63 percent in December 2024, up from 50 percent in January and 51 percent in February, the SWS survey showed.

The SWS survey also showed that 12 percent identified themselves on the line dividing poor and not poor, and 36 percent said they were not poor.

According to Dumlao, the government uses an annual “family income and expenditure survey” while private organizations like the SWS rely on surveys done quarterly.

“Then their survey results are dependent on questions they ask from respondents. While we recognize and acknowledge these studies, we also have to compare them with the scientific studies done by the government,” she said.

Dumlao cited the government’s “social safety nets” such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) aimed at cushioning the impact of “unwanted events” and “adverse shocks” on low-income sectors.

Citing the government’s latest data, Dumlao said these programs have led to a decrease in the poverty incidence in the country.

The DSWD official attributed the increase in hunger rates in the country to the string of typhoons that had hit the country last year, and the effects of rising inflation.

“This is also the reason we have launched the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap), which is supposedly aimed as a social safety net to cushion the impact of rising inflation to individuals who are affected by rising inflation but whose income do not exceed the statutory minimum wage.”

She also said the government continues to aim to bring down the poverty incidence rate in the country to a single-digit percentage before the end of the term of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“The DSWD is committed in contributing to that attainment of that goal, and we are exerting all efforts to reducing the poverty incidence in the country,” she added.

Dumlao also pointed out that the causes of hunger and poverty in the country are “multi-faceted” and would require a “multipronged approach.”

“We remain steadfast in promoting various initiatives to address the issue of hunger and poverty and in improving and expanding existing programs of our agency,” she said.

“The program 4Ps invests in the education and health of child beneficiaries because we believe that hunger is a driver of poverty—when children are not healthy, they lose the opportunity to have a good future. This affects their education and their productivity,” she added.

Alongside the 4Ps, the DSWD has so far conducted nine job fairs that cater to 4Ps beneficiaries, wherein up to 3,000 have been hired on the spot.

The agency is also implementing the Walang Gutom program in the metropolis, Dumlao said.

“We’re looking at expanding the implementation of this program, with Walang Gutom Kitchen in northern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” she added.

Under the program, eligible families receive P3,000 per month in food credits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which they can use to buy select food items from accredited merchants and “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” stalls.

Dumlao said the government adopts the “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” approach to address the problem of hunger and poverty.

“We are with the private sector and that has been demonstrated in the various programs that we are implementing,” she said.