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Hunger incidence jumps in Mindanao and Visayas, SWS survey says
The incidence of hunger experienced by poor families in Visayas and Mindanao almost doubled in the previous month, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows.
“As of September 2024, the experience of hunger was highest in Mindanao at 30.7 percent of families, followed by the Visayas at 26 percent, Metro Manila at 21.7 percent, and Balance Luzon (Luzon areas outside the National Capital Region) at 18.1 percent.” a recent SWS survey report shows.
The survey said hunger incidence in Mindanao sharply rose by 15 points from 15.7 percent in June.
In Visayas, the hunger incidence also soared by 12.3 points from 13.7 percent in June while it slightly rose by 1.7 points in Metro Manila from 20 percent.
However, the hunger incidence in Balance Luzon fell slightly by 1.5 points from 19.6 percent in June to 18.1 percent in September.
The SWS survey from September 14 to 23 shows that more Filipino families or 22.9 percent experienced involuntary hunger compared to 17.6 percent recorded in June.
“The September 2024 hunger figure was 5.3 points above the 17.6 percent in June 2024, and the highest since the record high 30.7 percent during the COVID-19 lockdowns in September 2020. It is 13.1 points above the September 2023 hunger figure after four straight quarterly increases,” the survey stated.
“The 5.3-point rise in hunger between June 2024 and September 2024 was due to sharp increases in Mindanao and the Visayas, combined with a slight increase in Metro Manila and a slight decline in Balance Luzon,” it added. Robina Asido/DMS
Fake news, disinformation biggest challenges to improving early warning system
Fake news and disinformation are the biggest challenges as the government continues to improve its early warning system to minimize the effect of calamities, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chairman and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Monday.
In an interview with reporters during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), Teodoro said while the government continues to improve its early warning system, the spread of fake news and disinformation can cause “chaos” and “panic” among people.
“It’s constantly improving, our early warning system. There are two points in the early warning system, the detection and the information flow,” he said.
“Early detection, once again, is a function of science and technology and also it’s adequate information translated into actionable deeds for preparation that you can cascade down to the community. Then again, the biggest challenge is fake news and disinformation,” he added.
Teodoro also noted that the Philippines is collaborating with its allies, like Japan, as part of its effort to improve the early warning system.
“Yes, definitely. It’s been a long time. Our collaboration continues. It doesn’t need to be in the future. It’s already being done by DOST (Department of Science and Technology) and us,” he said. Robina Asido/DMS
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”Enteng” makes landfall in Casiguran, Metro Manila under Signal Number One
Tropical Storm ”Enteng” made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora and was over Quirino Province on Monday afternoon as areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number Two have gone down, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Metro Manila is among many areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number One, which caused Malacanang to suspend work in government agencies and classes in public and private schools.
Pagasa said ”Enteng” had maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 105 kilometers per hour when it was tracked at the vicinity of Maddela, Quirino as of 4 pm.
It was moving north-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour towards Cagayan Valley or northern Cordillera Administrative Region before turning west-northwest over the Babuyan Channel.
Under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number Two were Ilocos Norte, Apayao, the eastern portion of Kalinga (Rizal, Pinukpuk, City of Tabuk), Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, and the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler).
Under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number One were Batanes, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the eastern portion of Pangasinan (Rosales, Asingan, Binalonan, Sison, San Manuel, Santa Maria, Balungao, San Quintin, Tayug, Umingan, Natividad, San Nicolas), Abra, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, City of San Jose del Monte, Obando, City of Meycauayan, Bocaue, Balagtas, Bustos, Baliuag, Pandi, Santa Maria, Marilao, Angat, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel), Metro Manila, Rizal, the northeastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan), and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands.