Sun Life Philippines employees and volunteers from its partners are building 3,500 solar lamps, aiming to complete and donate it by July to communities in the Calabarzon Region and Talim Island within the Laguna Lake.

The initiative under its Circle of Light program kicked off with a solar lamp-making workshop in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig last 23 April.

"This project was inspired by Sun Life’s sustainability ambitions and our unwavering dedication to bringing hope where we can," the firm said.

Circle of Light also helps workers of Odangputik Pottery earn more by making the casing for the solar lamps for the project.

"The lamp-making workshops will continue until all 3,500 lamps are made. But while this will not be a regular activity for Sun Life, the potters we are helping through this campaign will be able to continue selling pots to be used in this project," according to the life insurer.

The electronic parts of the solar lamps are provided by Liter of Light, a social enterprise that build sun-powered lighting equipment using locally available materials.

“In time with Sun Life’s 130th anniversary, we team up with Liter of Light in bringing a brighter future for every Filipino -- especially in underserved communities,” read a post on the Sun Life Philippines Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Sun Life  shared that its foundation recently participated in a cleanup of the 700-meter Tumana Linear Park along the Tumana-Malanday Creek or Palay Creek in Marikina City.

Sun Life Philippines chief executive officer and Sun Life Foundation chairman Benedict Sison participated in the cleanup.

The advocacy group Tumana Eco-Warriors also joined the cleanup and helped Sun Life donate sustainably made dolls called Huggable Dolls to children at the Concepcion Integrated School.