noted that consultations did take place from time to time between LUPA representatives and national government agencies, such as HUDCC and the NHA. However, this was initially only on matters of national housing policy, rather than specific details on the resettlement of residents of Parola. Encouraged by civil society groups, community leaders recently explored an engagement with the DILG and develop a people’s proposal for their resettlement. The community is firm about only accepting a redevelopment of their current site as an option, and negotiations with government have recently broken down. Community leaders reported that Parola is not part of the Government’s current ‘danger zones’ resettlement initiative. LEF T: WO MEN PE ELIN G G ARL IC AS A S OURC E O F LI VELIH OOD . Many community members were visible peeling large quantities of garlic during the visit. Peeling a 15kg sack of garlic takes an individual approximately 8 to 10 hours and provides an income of PHP60 (approx. US$1.30) per sack. Notwithstanding the failure of any large-scale resettlement plans, some individual households have accepted NHA-provided resettlement to sites outside the city. Leaders were unaware of any specific numbers but reported that all of those resettled had since returned to Parola due to lack of employment in the resettlement areas. Awareness of the lack of employment and general livelihood opportunities in resettlement sites was reported as the predominant reason for not entertaining the option of resettlement out of the city. There are some economic opportunities for residents of the Compound, many of whom are informally employed as porters or shop attendants in the Divisoria retail district, which is immediately adjacent to the community. During the visit, many members of the community were seen peeling large quantities of garlic. This is another source of livelihood for many of Parola’s residents, principally women and 80  Human Rights in the Rubble

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