Zamboanga City - The last quarter of 2007 has registered for the government a 5.2% win against war on hunger. This is what the Social Weather Station (SWS) revealed today, as contained in their report on the November 30 to December 3, 2007 survey result on involuntary hunger.

The SWS noted that the incidence of voluntary hunger significantly declined to 16.2% from the record high of 21.5% registered in the last quarter of 2007. This pegs the government’s win to 5.2% over its fight against hunger.
 
In a press release, from the National Nutrition Council from Taguig, Executive Director Maria-Bernardite T. Flores pointed out that similar positive and significant reductions in the incidence of severe and moderate hunger were likewise noted per SWS survey result.
 
Data showed that from 4.1%in the third quarter, severe hunger decreased to 3.3%; while moderate hunger decreased from 17.4% to 12.9%.
 
Severe hunger refers to those who experience hunger “often” or “always” while moderate hunger refers to those who went hungry “only once” or a “few times” in the last three months.
 
Improvements were likewise noted for Balance Luzon (22.3% to 14.0%); Visayas (21.7% to 14.3%) and Mindanao (22.0% to 22.3%). However, the survey noted that more Metro Manila residents experiences involuntary hunger. From the 17.7% registered in the third quarter, the proportion increased to 19.0%.
 
NNC-9 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Ma. Del Pilar Pamela R. Tarroza said the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, being in the list of Priority 1(P1) provinces cradles food poor residents while Zamboanga del Sur, a Priority 3 (P3) province also hosts poor constituents.
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The December conduct of the Pamaskong Handog of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in these food poor and poor residents in the P1, P2 and P3 provinces nationwide was utilized to mitigate hunger in these areas. Poor families received their bundles of food, capability and service packages  through the collaborative efforts of government agencies
 
Ending the year 2007 with a breath of win in hunger mitigation, President Arroyo says “2008 is a time for Filipinos to come together, a time for hope, optimum and renewed faith in humankind, a time for a fresh start and new beginnings!” (PIA9/zc)