Philippines: 23,000 residents fight eviction from Manila landfill settlement

More than 23,000 people live on a former landfill that was converted to farmland in Manila, Philippines, now facing conflict over land use and waste management. The community's existence on reclaimed toxic soil creates both livelihood and health vulnerabilities as local authorities weigh redevelopment against residents' claims to the land. The case reflects broader tensions across Southeast Asia between urban waste infrastructure needs and informal settlement displacement. DW's reporting connects the dispute to colonial-era land management patterns that shaped present-day Philippine waste policy.