Socioeconomic Determinants of Food Insecurity in the Philippines: Evidence from the 2018–2019 and 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Surveys

Food insecurity remains a major development challenge in the Philippines, with 31.4 percent of households suffering from moderate to severe food insecurity in 2023, based on the National Nutrition Survey. This figure underscores the urgency of addressing the problem. To identify long-term socioeconomic determinants, this study analyzes nationally representative data from the 2018–2019 and 2021 rounds of the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), which provide detailed household-level socioeconomic information. A partial proportional odds logistic regression, grounded on the Neoclassical Theory of Household Production, was applied to examine key drivers of food insecurity. Results indicate that 41.74 percent of households were food secure, while 15.07 percent were mildly food insecure, 27.97 percent moderately food insecure, and 15.22 percent severely food insecure, based on the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale from the 2018-2019 and 2021 ENNS. Households with older heads, larger sizes, rented dwellings, membership in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, and residence in historically food-insecure regions have higher odds of food insecurity. Conversely, marriage, higher education, greater wealth, rural residence, and home gardening have significant negative effects on household food insecurity. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that prioritize vulnerable households and integrate social protection programs with strategies that enhance economic stability and household food production.