Hunger is tightening its grip on millions of Filipinos.
Former Senator and senatorial candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has sounded the alarm over the worsening food crisis, as the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reveals that hunger among Filipino families has surged to its highest level since the pandemic.
“Nakakabahala ito. Ibig sabihin, halos tatlong sa bawat sampung pamilyang Pilipino ang hindi nakakakain nang sapat. May mga pamilyang natutulog nang walang laman ang sikmura. May mga magulang na hindi kumakain para lang may maihain sa kanilang mga anak. May mga magsasakang hindi makabili ng pagkaing kanila mismong inaani. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit natin isinusulong ang Hello Pagkain sa Mababang Presyo,” Pangilinan emphasized.
The SWS survey, conducted in March 2025, revealed that 27.2% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger—a stark reminder of the economic hardships gripping millions of households due to skyrocketing food prices.
As part of his campaign, Pangilinan has championed urgent food security reforms, including:
• Strengthening the Sagip Saka Act to ensure that farmers and fisherfolk earn more while consumers pay less for food.
• Pushing for targeted government intervention to stabilize food prices, particularly through direct purchases from farmers and fisherfolk.
• Expanding farm-to-market programs to cut unnecessary middlemen costs and ensure affordable food reaches communities faster.
• Implementing a national feeding program for school-aged children, ensuring that students receive nutritious meals in schools to combat malnutrition and improve learning outcomes.
“Hunger is not just a statistic—it is a painful reality for millions of Filipinos. Hindi ito simpleng usapin ng ekonomiya, kundi isang moral obligation na siguruhing walang Pilipinong magugutom sa sarili niyang bansa. Nakakalungkot na sa isang bansang sagana sa likas-yaman, may mga pamilya pa ring nagugutom araw-araw,” he added.
Pangilinan reiterated that addressing hunger requires a united effort beyond political affiliations.
“Ang gutom, walang kulay. Ang solusyon, dapat walang kulay din. This is why I continue to fight for practical, immediate, and long-term solutions. Ang gutom, hindi dapat paghintayin. Bumoto po tayo ng lider na hindi lang nangangako, kundi kumikilos—para sa pagkain, para sa kinabukasan, para sa bawat Pilipino.”