Sun Life Foundation recently signed an agreement and turned over more than 19 million pesos to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation’s Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, to rehabilitate the Tumana-Malanday creek or commonly kown by the local as Palay Creek in Marikina City. This project is in partnership with Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.

Photo on the left: (L-R) Jen Santos-Bantay Kalikasan Program Director; Susan Afan- ALKFI Managing Director; Jose Antonio Goitia-PRRC Executive Director; and Gregorio Garcia-PRRC Deputy Executive Director for Operations. Photo on the right: 4th from left is Ms. Kristine Dianne Millete-Executive Director of Sun Life Foundation.

The rehabilitation of the creek will benefit more than 10 thousand households in the area.

The Tumana-Malanday Creek or commonly known by the local as Palay Creek

The project also includes development of a 700 linear-meter linear park, conducting information, education, and communication campaigns on solid waste management, training on people development (River Warriors/Earth Warriors), and providing livelihood through Mabuhay or Bokashi Balls.

In photos: (L-R) Kristine Dianne Millete (Sun life Foundation's Executive Director), Ma. Karenina Casas (Sun Life Foundation's Trustee), Alexander Narciso (Sun Life Foundation's President and Trustee), Rizalina Mantaring (Sun Life Foundation's Chairwoman), Susan Afan (ALKFI's Managing Director), Noemi Samson (ALKFI's Chief Finance & Services Officer), and Jen Santos (ALKFI's Bantay Kalikasan Program Director).

Groundbreaking of Tumana-Malanday Creek linear park project. The ceremony was headed by Jen Santos (Bantay Kalikasan's Program Director), Jose Antonio Goitia (PRRC's Executive Director), Kristine Dianne Millete (Sun Life Foundation's Executive Director), and Hon. Marcy Teodoro (Marikina City's Mayor).

Aside from partnering with KBPIP, Sun Life Foundation also partnered with ALKFI-BayaNiJuan. Its partnership has grown more than to giving shelter to the residents of the community of Southville 7. In 2010, Sun Life Financial committed PHP 49 million to help improve lives of families living in Southville 7, Calauan, Laguna. A portion of the donation amounting to PHP 9.69 million was used to build 114 Panibahay units for families that came from Estero de Pandacan and Estero de Paco in Manila.  Sun Life also funded community facilities such as a community center, learning center, rainwater harvesters and water pumps. Moreover, it supported Itikan ni Inay – a small enterprise composed of 10 mothers involved in the production of salted duck eggs.

Sun Life’s adopted community, also known as Legacy of Light Vilage was hit by Typhoon ‘Glenda’ in July 2014, destroying many of the Panibahay units, as well as the learning center and gymnasium. Despite the disaster, Legacy of Life residents showed solidarity with their neighbors by offering to adopt affected families until the houses were repaired. Other families, meanwhile, temporarily transferred to vacant units in Site 2, where they were welcomed by the Humanityville Homeowners Association.

To date, in addition to community facilities and livelihood assistance, Sun Life Foundation also supported the continuing education of 14 children under the Bantay Edukasyon project of Bantay Bata 163.

Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig is the river rehabilitation arm of ALKFI-Bantay Kalikasan. It is also one of the stakeholders in the relocation of the families that came from Estero de Pandacan and Estero de Paco, together with Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and National Housing Authority.