THE Mandaue City government will give free vegetable seedlings to every barangay in as an alternative food if the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) will be extended.
According to lawyer John Eddu Ibañez, executive secretary of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, it is one of their ongoing projects but they will still emphasize the sustainability and food safety of the vegetables.
Vegetable seedlings of cabbage, eggplants and okra can be used as food if the ECQ will continue. The said seedlings are stored in the City Agricultural Office.
Each person will receive one pack that has 20 to 30 seeds which they can germinate before planting. Ibañez also advised residents to keep the seed of the plant they will harvest so that they can plant it.
He added that they are discouraging everyone to go outside through this program since they can get vegetables in their own backyards.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 has started distributing vegetable seeds to walk-in clients in its office in Maguikay, Mandaue.
"Seeds of okra, Chinese kangkong, bitter gourd, eggplant, chili, pechay and other vegetables were given for free," DA 7 said.
The agency has given 118 sets of seeds composed of the aforementioned vegetables and still have 1,000 sets available.
The DA 7 office is open from8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday for any walk-ins to get the free seeds.
For those who are interested in getting the free seeds, they are reminded of their quarantine passes, social distancing measures, wearing personal protective equipment and bringing their own eco bag.
Meanwhile, the DA 7 also conducted Kadiwa (Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita) to bring fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers right to the consumers.
Supported by the Cebu City Agriculture Office, Kadiwa is usually held every Thursday and Friday of the week.
DA 7 Director Salvador Diputado in an earlier report urged families to do home gardening while in quarantine.
He said: “We need to plant our own food to prepare us if this pandemic, God forbid, will continue for months, which will result in food scarcity. Having your own garden now means you will be reaping your own food in the next few months." (JCT, JOB)