No resettlement was provided to those remaining residents, who were immediately
rendered homeless, constructing improvised shelter in the adjacent street from
tarpaulins and other available materials. Some of the community remained in these
temporary shelters, while others have moved to new or pre-existing dwellings on the
banks of the nearby Canal de la Reina. In pre-existing dwellings, previous occupants
constructed partitions to accommodate those recently evicted. Some of these
structures are built on the riverbanks, while others have been constructed on stilts over
the canal. Conditions in the settlement remain precarious, with many structures liable
to collapse, particularly during heavy rains and flooding. No sewage facilities exist in
the community, with human effluent being discharged directly into the canal. Basic
services, such as electricity and water, are outsourced and purchased from
neighbouring residences with established household connections.
In 2013, residents organised themselves into a community association and are
preparing a community-based proposal for their resettlement to a safe area. Residents
are optimistic that they will be able to access resettlement financing from the
Government’s PHP50 billion fund as they are currently residing in a danger area and
understand that they are included in the programme.
AB OVE: A W OM AN S ELLI NG FOO D F ROM A S M ALL S TO RE I N TH E F RON T OF
H ER DW EL LIN G UN IT .
Livelihood opportunities are plentiful in the local area, with most residents gaining
employment nearby or earning income by selling goods and produce to other members of
the community.
78 Human Rights in the Rubble