Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte – In an earnest response to the pressing need for food security and biodiversity preservation, Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC) in partnership with Energy Development Corporation (EDC) proudly launched the Sow, Grow, Share: Empowering School and Community with a SEED Library Initiative. This transformative project aims to bridge the gap in access to diverse, locally adapted seeds, including heirloom and open-pollinated varieties, while fostering school and community engagement and environmental stewardship.
The initiative, which aligns with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte’s (PGIN) Gulayan sa Barangay program, was inaugurated at INAC with the support of EDC. The Seed Library will serve as a vital resource, particularly in the aftermath of calamities, ensuring that communities can readily access high-quality seeds to rebuild their food sources.
Beyond providing seeds, the initiative is deeply rooted in education and capacity-building. Students, parents, and local stakeholders will receive training on seed production, seed saving, and seed sharing techniques. The library operates on a cycle of reciprocity: qualified vegetable growers can borrow seeds, cultivate their crops, and return seeds after harvest — sustaining the library for future growers and fostering a culture of sustainability.
Teacher Joel C. Calidro, the project’s proponent, expressed his vision for the initiative: “The success of our seed library will inspire new initiatives, expanding the movement for biodiversity and food sovereignty.”
Through Calidro’s leadership, EDC was enlisted to construct the Seed Library Hall. During the launch, Atty. Allan V. Barcena, EDC Assistant Vice President & Head of Corporate Support Functions, highlighted the broader significance of the project: “This project is more than just a collection of seeds; it is a movement of knowledge, empowerment, and collective responsibility. Every seed planted represents hope, resilience, and the power of education. It symbolizes a growing generation of changemakers who will protect, nurture, and sustain our planet’s resources.”
The initiative also garnered the support of Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, who emphasized the pivotal role of agriculture, that it should be pursued especially by the younger generation, as well as cherished by the whole community as people from Metro Manila aspire to have available land and soil like them to plant and grow seeds.
The launch of the Seed Library is more than an event — it is the beginning of a community-driven revolution. It represents a promise of self-sufficiency, the preservation of agricultural heritage, and a shared commitment to cultivating a resilient future for Ilocos Norte and eventually beyond.
Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is First Gen Corporation’s 100% Renewable Energy (RE) subsidiary with over 1,400MW total installed capacity that accounts for almost 20% of the country’s total installed RE capacity. Its 1,169.85MW geothermal portfolio comprises 80% of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, making the Philippines the third largest geothermal producer in the world. First Gen is the Philippines’ leading clean energy company.
