Herbs and vegetable planting materials from the Seeds and Seedlings (S&S) Plaza in Los Baños, Laguna were distributed by the Bureau of Plant Industry-Los Baños National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center (BPI-LBNCRDPSC) on April 13 in some barangays of Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas.
A total of 367 assorted herbs and 118 vegetable planting materials were distributed to individuals and associations in the three provinces. A total of 30 kilos of fresh vegetables were also distributed to said beneficiaries.
The planting materials vary from (lowland and indigenous) basil, mint, oregano, dill, chive, green tea, serpentina, kale, tomato, eggplant, and roselle.
The recipients were from Los Baños, Bay, Calamba, and Calauan in Laguna; Silang, Cavite; and Tanauan City, Batangas.
This initiative was through the “Science for the Convergence of Agriculture and Tourism” (SciCAT) program of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The S&S Plaza is one of the sites in the country that are part of the SciCAT program. SciCAT is the result of technological convergence to improve the productivity and capacity for sustainable practices of farms while showcasing their beauty. S&S Plaza is being supported through the BPI-LBNCRDPSC project led by Dr. Herminigilda A. Gabertan and Ms. Cecilia C. Mallari.
While the relief efforts of the S&S Plaza team are still ongoing, the team is also providing technical assistance and support to anyone who is planting within the comfort of their homes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This is being conducted through the S&S Plaza Facebook page (S&S Plaza Goes SciCAT) and email address (
Located beside the DOST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center (DPITC) in Los Baños, Laguna, the S&S Plaza offers various seeds and seedlings of lowland and indigenous vegetables, seedlings of herbs, grafted fruit trees, and ornamental plants, among others. The plaza is currently being transformed into a SciCAT farm tourism site to promote and showcase readily available matured technologies and serve as a venue for awareness creation, information dissemination, technology transfer, and skills development.
This initiative is part of the Lingkod Alalay sa Pamayanan (LINGAP) component of the DOST-PCAARRD’s “GALING-PCAARRD Kontra COVID-19” program, in support to the Republic Act No. 11469, which is also known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.”
