The number of Filipino families that have experienced hunger at least once in the past three months decreased to 9.8 percent in September 2023, according to a Social Weather Stations survey conducted from 30 September to 4 October on 1,200 adult respondents.

In June, the percentage of Filipino families that said they went hungry was 10.4, the same as last March.

"The 0.6-point decline in Overall Hunger between June 2023 and September 2023 was due to declines in the Visayas and Balance Luzon, combined with a rise in Metro Manila and a steady score in Mindanao," SWS said.

Metro Manila had the highest hunger rate per area at 17.3 percent, up from 15.7 percent in the previous quarter.

It was followed by Balance Luzon at 10.3 percent from 11.3 percent and the Visayas at 6.7 percent from 9.3 percent. The hunger rate in Mindanao increased from 6.3 percent to 6.7 percent.