Erstwhile symbols of poverty in Philippines, Smokey Mountain and Scavenger, are already passed into history. According to World Bank, in 1991, 40 percent of households lived in poverty. This had fallen 32 percent in 1997. One of the reason that Philippines government forced to close main Smokey Mountains and evicted scavengers from there in mid-1990s. As the result, poverty rate had gradually decreased until years ago and in Metro Manila, one of the central hubs of a thriving metropolitan area, skyscrapers and first-class hotels are lined and big shopping malls are always crowed. It seems that poverty problem in Philippines is changing for the better.
But this is not true. In actual fact, poor people are on increase and the gap between rich and poor people is getting wider. According to UNDP, the number of poor people increase more than 2,000,000 people in recent four years and will rise by degrees. Philippines is the only country to increase poor people among the countries of Southeast Asia where have been developing rapidly.
Close to 30 percent of population are still suffering from dehumanizing poverty and in the city of Manila alone, 50 percent of the 11 million inhabitants live in slum area. Many people who live in urban slum and on the street migrated to Manila from the island of midsection of a country and Mindanao and looking for better economic opportunities. They engage jobs include selling items such as newspaper, cigarettes, drink, food an daily necessaries on the street. And some people recover of useful substances from waste products. Due to uneducated and depression, many people are out of work. The life in urban slum and street lack sanitation, safe water and other service including educational opportunities and medical facilities.
Yusuke Harada, b.1979, is Japanese photojournalist who has photographed the worldâ??s major conflicts and its hidden crisis. After studying Digital imaging technique in professional school for two years, he started his career as photojournalist covering the conflict in Gaza strip, PALESTINE. Since then, he has independently photographed and documented throughout Africa, Middle East and Asia.
Awards 2012 The New York Photo Awards, Documentary single, Finalist
2012 Foto8 Summershow, Best in show, Honorable Mention
2012 KL Photoawards, Open category, Shortlist
2012 Foto8 Summershow, Best in show, Honorable Mention
2012 The PGB Photo Award, Picture of the year
2011 Photography Masters Cup, Photojournalism, Nominee
2011 12th Ueno Hikoma Awards, Nominee
2011 PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris, General News, Gold Press
2011 PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris, Feature Story, Silver Press
2010 11th Ueno Hikoma Awards, Nominee
