RIGH T: G ARB AG E AN D O TH ER REF US E G ATH ERIN G B ENEATH IM PRO VIS ED S TRUC TURE S O N TH E B AN K OF C ANAL D E LA REI NA. Water flow in Manila’s esteros is inhibited by a variety of waterway obstructions, rendering many of the waterways stagnant and liable to spread disease among nearby communities. take up the offer and preferred the option to deal directly with the landowner; however, it was reported that no further consultations took place. Sometime in early December 2011 community leaders were advised by the Barangay Chair that an eviction and demolition was about to take place. The eviction notice was addressed to the Barangay Chair, who was not a resident of the community, and had been issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on December 2. According to leaders in the community, the nominated reason for the eviction was that the old sawmill site had to be cleared as it breached various sections of the local building code. However, residents advised that they were never provided with a copy of the eviction notice. No contact or subsequent consultations took place between the DPWH and the community, although the notice advised that the eviction was to take place on December 12. Residents did not want to be removed from their dwellings before the terms of their resettlement were finalised. On the morning of December 12 the community prepared 76  Human Rights in the Rubble