Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines, recently launched a Food Shed Farming Enterprise project in Surigao del Norte, bolstering efforts to promote food security and climate resilience in the province.
The project will build four new food sheds in Barangay Julio Ouano, Pungtod, Ombong, and San Pedro in Alegria, benefiting 120 rice farmers and 600 residents. The sheds, which are constructed using sustainable materials, utilize highly replicable climate-adaptive farming technologies like composting, rainwater harvesting, and natural pest and disease control to produce food. The aim is to improve access to locally produced, affordable, and nutritious food in remote and low-income communities, provide sustainable agriculture-based livelihoods, and enhance resilience against challenges posed by climate change.
The project also features capacity-development activities aimed at enhancing financial wellness, including access to basic financial literacy and the formation of savings and loans groups.
This initiative marks the latest chapter in the collaboration between Sun Life Foundation and WWF-Philippines, which previously built five food sheds in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte. The collaboration also constructed nine sheds in Sto. Domingo in Albay, Manjuyod in Negros Oriental, and Burgos in Surigao del Norte, through additional funding from Sun Life’s global headquarters.
“We are proud to expand our partnership with WWF-Philippines in bringing sustainable food solutions to more communities across the Philippines,” said Joy Castillo, President of Sun Life Foundation. “This new project demonstrates our shared commitment not only to building healthier and more climate-resilient communities but also to promoting environmental sustainability.”
“This collaboration goes beyond building food sheds: it is about enabling communities to take control of their food systems in a way that is sustainable and climate-resilient,” said Chrisma Salao, WWF-Philippines Director for Conservation Programs. “By equipping farmers with the right tools, knowledge, and support, we are helping ensure that even the most remote communities have access to affordable and nutritious food while strengthening their capacity to face climate impacts.”
As the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, the country’s first and longest-standing life insurance company, Sun Life Foundation is committed to building a brighter future for Filipinos through education, health, and environment programs.
