Around 64% of the population nationwide which accounts for 54.9 million Filipinos are chronically food insecure (IPC-Chronic level 2 and above). Specifically, this represents 39% mild, 17% moderate and 8% severe chronic food insecure population. Population of moderately and severely food insecure account for nearly 22 million people. Of the 71 provinces analyzed:
- Four provinces namely Lanao del Sur, Northern Samar, Occidental Mindoro and Sulu have been classified in IPC-Chronic Level 4 (Severe Chronic Food Insecurity), accounting for 658,000 people.
- Forty-eight provinces have been classified in IPC-Chronic Level 3 (Moderate Chronic Food Insecurity) while the remaining nineteen provinces have been classified in IPC-Chronic Level 2 (Mild Chronic Food Insecurity). Approximately 21.6 million Filipinos are facing higher level chronic food insecurity (IPC-Chronic level 3 and 4). The population classified in IPC-Chronic Level 3 and 4 are of major concern which is highest in Lanao del Sur, Occidental Mindoro, and Northern Samar (50% to 52%) followed by Sulu, Masbate, Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, and Saranggani (40 to 49%). The population estimates providing a summary of the number and percentage of food insecure population is presented in Annex B.
Summary of Classification Conclusions
- Severe chronic food insecurity (IPC level 4) is driven by poor food consumption quality, quantity and high level of chronic undernutrition.
- In provinces at IPC level 3, quality of food consumption is worse than quantity; and chronic undernutrition is also a major problem.
- The most chronic food insecure people tend to be the landless poor households, indigenous people, population engaged in unsustainable livelihood strategies such as farmers, unskilled laborers, forestry workers, fishermen etc. that provide inadequate and often unpredictable income. Thus, it is likely that these people are not able to satisfy their food and non-food needs in a sustainable manner.
- Provinces highly susceptible to flooding, landslides and drought are prone to experience excessive stresses on their coping mechanisms.
The provinces and population facing severe and moderate chronic food insecurity (IPC-Chronic level 3 and 4) are of major concern and warrant action from the government and the development community. An immediate and coordinated mid- and the long-term response from the Government, development partners and I/NGOs is primarily necessary for Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Northern Samar and Occidental Mindoro provinces, where 658,000 people are facing severe chronic food insecurity (IPC-Chronic level 4 ) due to lack of food access, poor food utilization, protracted natural and human induced shocks, unsustainable and low value livelihood strategies.
It is also recommended that the Government and partners implement interventions aimed at improving the quality and quantity of consumption as well as decreasing chronic malnutrition in the 52 provinces and for the 21.6 million people facing moderate and severe chronic food insecurity (IPC-Chronic level 3 and 4).
Based on these key findings, the following are recommendations for consideration in the planning of provincial, regional and national governments as well as development partners:
- Strengthen social protection programs by expanding coverage and efficient identification of poor families with priority given to children, women and older persons and their families
- Integrate employment diversification and sustainable economic empowerment programs with local agricultural production processes for the poor and vulnerable
- Increase investments in rural off-farm and non-farm employment generating activities such as agribusiness enterprises to address seasonal agricultural activities
- Scale-up investments on nutrition, particularly on the components of First 1000 Days (from pregnancy, birth to 6 months, and 6 months to 2 years) as a proven solution to prevent child malnutrition
- Strengthen disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programs, particularly in the most vulnerable areas, to increase people’s resilience and decreasing their vulnerabilities