By Donna Rempillo CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga- More than 45,000 seedlings are now being distributed throughout the province to encourage people to make the most of their homestay during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine by turning to gardening. SEEDLINGS FOR PAMPANGA -- The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, begins the distribution of about 45,000 certified seedlings to the different towns and cities of Pampanga. (Pampanga PIO) To sustain food security, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Agriculture Committee Chair Jun Canlas has intensified the promotion of urban and backyard gardening among Kapampangans. “Home gardening is one of the things families can do to help the government address food sustainability and security while the Enhanced Community Quarantine is being imposed in Luzon,” he said. Each city and municipality will be given assorted seeds and planting materials of vegetables such as okra, petchay, hot Pepper (cindy gang), hot pepper (hot bird), eggplant, tomato, squash, and mustard through the High-Value Crops Development Program of the Department of Agriculture. “A total of 320,000 trays of vegetable seedlings will be distributed to seven provinces of the region. Some 45, 184 trays are allocated for Pampanga,” said Crispulo G. Bautista Jr., OIC of the Department of Agriculture Central Luzon. “Ang ibibigay sa mga household ay yung mga ready to plant na mga seedlings kasi kung hindi magsasaka or kahit magsasaka na, kung minsan yung pagpupunla di nila na pe-perfect yan so mababa ang germination” ,” he said. He advised interested households who are willing to plant during the quarantine period to request and claim seeds from their respective Municipal /City Agriculture Offices (M/CAOs). Seedlings are being given so that safe, fresh, and quality crops may be served from the backyard to the tables of each household.