Recent data from a Social Weather Stations survey reveals a troubling escalation in the Philippines, with involuntary hunger reaching 22.6% in the third quarter—the highest level recorded since 1998. This figure, which marks an increase from June’s 20.3%, surpasses even the peak experienced during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The situation is particularly dire in Metro Manila, where 27% of families reported suffering from a lack of food, followed closely by high rates in Mindanao and the rest of Luzon. Beyond the immediate struggle for meals, a staggering 16.8 million families now categorize themselves as "poor," a significant jump from the 13.6 million reported just a few months prior.

The crisis is being fueled by persistent inflation, which reached an alarming 7.2% in September. Local vendors are witnessing the impact firsthand, noting that customers are cutting back on portion sizes and frequency of meals as food prices soar. Small business owners like Ramil and Joanna have been forced to adjust their prices due to the rising costs of staples and cooking fuel, with some even ending credit services to keep their operations afloat. While the public feels the weight of these economic pressures, critics like the Ibon Foundation have sharply criticized the Marcos administration, arguing that a lack of decisive government action to curb inflation and manage energy costs is leaving vulnerable families to fend for themselves.