FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
SBNo. 1349 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
10 
This bill seeks to spur the production, processing, marketing, and distribution 
of malunggay in suitable areas of the country in order to acquire the benefits of the 
exceptionally nutritious and productive but underutilized tropical crop locally 
known as malunggay. 
Moringa oleifera Lamk, commonly known in the Philippines as "malunggay" 
belongs to an onogeneric family of shrubs and tree, Moringaceae and is considered to 
have its origin in Agra and Oudh, in the northwest region of India, south of the 
Himalayan Mountains. 
It is a fast growing, perennial tree which can reach a 
maximum height of 7-12 m and a diameter of 20-40 cm at chest height. It is 
cultivated throughout the Middle East, and in almost the whole tropical belt. It was 
introduced in Eastern Africa from India at the beginning of 20th century. In 
Nicaragua, the Marango (local name for Moringa oleifera) was introduced in the 1920s 
as an ornamental plant and for use as a live fence. 
Malunggay is one of the most useful tropical trees. The relative ease with 
which it propagates through both sexual and asexual means and its low demand for 
soil nutrients and water after being planted makes its production and management 
easy. The paper entitled "The potential of Moringa Oleifera for Agricultural and 
Industrial Uses" written by Foidl N., Makkar H.P.S. and Becker K. from Nicaragua, in 
2001, outlines important uses of various parts of the plant. Among others, 
malunggay's young leaves are edible and are commonly cooked and eaten like 
spinach or used to make soups and salads. They are an exceptionally good source of 
provitamin A, vitamins B, and C, minerals (in particular iron), and the slllphur-
containing amino acids methionine and cystine. The dry seeds can be ground to a 
powder and used for seasoning sauces. The roots from young plants can also be 
dried and ground for use as a hot seasoning base with a flavor similar to that of 
horseradish. This is why the Moringa tree has been given the name "Horseradish 
Tree" (Delaveau and Boiteau, 1980). The flowers can be eaten after being lightly 
blanched or raw as a tasty addition to salads. 
For industrial purposes, the oil content of de-hulled seed (kernel) of 
malunggay is approximately 42%. The oil is brilliant yellow. It is used as a lubricant 
for fine machinery such as timepieces because it has little tendency to deteriorate 
and become rancid and sticky (Ferrao and Ferrao, 1970; Ramachandran et aI., 1980). It is 
also useful as vegetable cooking oil. The oil is known for its capacity to absorb and 
retain volatile substances and is therefore valuable in the perfume industry for 
stabilizing scents. The free fatty acid content varies from 0.5 to 3%. Moringa seeds 
contain between 30-42 % oil and the press cake obtained as a by-product of the oil 
extraction process contains a very high level of protein. Some of these proteins 
(approximately 1 %) are active cationic polyelectrolytes, which neutralize the colloids 
1 


in muddy or dirty water. This protein can therefore be used as a non-toxic natural 
polypeptide for sedimenting mineral particles and organics in the purification of 
drinking water, for cleaning vegetable oil, or for sedimenting fibers in the juice and 
beer industries. 
The extract obtained from the leaves of Moringa in 80 % ethanol contains 
growth enhancing principles (i.e. hormones of the cytokinine type). The extract can 
be used in the form of a foliar spray to accelerate the growth of young plants, cause 
the plants to be firmer and more resistant to pests and disease, cause the plants to 
produce more and larger fruit and higher yield at harvest time. The extract produces 
an overall increase in yield of between 20-35 % based on data such as the stem 
diameter, number of nodules, number of axe Is, number of flower buds, and number 
of fruits per flower bud. 
At Biomasa, a Technical University based in Nicaragua, studies have been 
conducted using the seeds from Moringa for the final treatment in wastewater 
treatment units. To avoid eutrophication of rivers or lakes, the seeds can be used to 
coagulate algae and remove them by sedimentation. Up to 98 % of the algae can be 
removed by this treatment. The treatment also reduces the oxygen demand of the 
water by approximately 70 % and its content of both phosphorous and nitrogen by 
60 %. The algae recovered by sedimentation after drying and pulverization have a 
protein content of about 46 % and can be used as a protein supplement for cows, 
pigs, chickens and even shrimps thereby reducing the cost of feeding substantially. 
One hectare of wastewater in an oxidation lagoon in the tropics can produce up to 
80 metric tons of dry algae in a year. For the final treatment of wastewater in a town 
of 10,000 inhabitants, approximately 960 kg of Moringa flour is required per day. 
In the Philippines, aside from the abovementioned benefits that can be 
derived from cultivating malunggay for agricultural and industrial purposes, 
studies have been made that bolster the use of malunggay for medicinal purposes. 
According to the Department of Agriculture BioTechnology Program, malunggay 
leaves are good for headache, bleeding from a shallow cut, bacterial and fungal skin 
complaints, anti-inflammatory gastric ulcers and diarrhea, malnutrition. On the 
other hand, malunggay pods are dewormers, good for treating liver and spleen 
problems, pain of the joints, and malnutrition. Likewise, malunggay seeds treat 
arthritis, rheumatism, gout, cramp, STD, boils and urinary problems, and a relaxant 
for epilepsy. Seed producers can amass a net income of approximately .JJ218,000 to 
P521,000 per hectare/year at .JJ20/kg of seeds, if the malunggay trees are planted 2x2 
or 3x3 meters apart. Leave producers can have an estimated income of .JJ1.43 million 
per hectare/year at .JJ5/kg of leaves. Overall, the malunggay cultivation for 
commercial use can generate an estimated 10,000 jobs/3,000 hectares for Filipinos. 
So far, efforts have been launched for the development of package of 
technology using the Nicaraguan experience as model and of a biotechnology 
protocol for rapid propagation of malunggay. Likewise, Biotechnology Information 
and Organization Network (BIONet) for Malunggay in Laguna, Quezon, Negros 
Oriental, CARAGA, Tarlac, CAR, Region 3 and IIocos Region and Malunggay 
nurseries and repositories in strategic locations have been established. There are also 
efforts to link up growers with market through contract to buy arrangements, and 
advocate the use of malunggay for government feeding and nutrition programs. 
Despite these efforts, there is a need for legislation to institutionalize the 
production, processing, marketing, and distribution of malunggay through a 
sustainable framework for development. This bill seeks to do just that by tasking the 
2 


Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Trade and 
Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, farmer's group, local 
government units, and the private sector, to formulate a five-year Framework for 
Development that shall serve as guide to the formulation and implementation of 
plans, programs and projects for the production, marketing, processing and 
distribution of malunggay for food, medicinal, health, and commercial needs. 
Moreover, this bill establishes a Malunggay Development Fund (MDF) to 
provide for the funding requirements for the prodUction, marketing, and processing 
of malunggay, with an initial amount of One Billion Pesos (Pl,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO) to be 
taken from the existing budget of the Department of Agriculture. 
Finally, this bill tasks the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the municipal government 
concerned, to identify the broad areas suitable for the planting and propagation of 
malunggay, within six (6) months after the effectivity of this proposed measure. 
In view of the benefits that will be gained by maximizing the yield and use of 
malunggay for agricultural, industrial, commercial and medidnal purposes, the 
immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
~RZA 
Senator 
3 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SEN ATE 
SBNo. 1349 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, MARKETING AND 
DISTRIBUTION OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAMK, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
MALUNGGAY, MANDATING THE CREATION OF A FRAMEWORK FOR 
DEVELOPMENT PLAN, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Malunggay Development 
2 
Act of 2010." 
3 
4 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the 
5 
State to accelerate the growth and development of the rural areas, improve 
6 
investment climate, competencies and efficiency of agribusiness, address the 
7 
nutritional and health needs of our people, and promote the planting of malunggay 
8 
as a source of livelihood, a means of attaining food security, and as an effective 
9 
approach to poverty alleviation, through an all-out promotion of the production, 
10 
processing, marketing, and distribution of malunggay in suitable areas of the 
11 
country. 
12 
13 
Section 3. Site Identification. -
The Department of Agriculture, in 
14 
coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the 
15 
municipal government concerned, shall identify the broad areas suitable for the 
16 
planting and propagation of malunggay, within six (6) months after the effectivity of 
17 
this Act: Provided, That such site identification shall be reviewed at appropriate 
18 
intervals to ensure consistency with the agrarian reform program and the national 
19 
land use policy. 
20 
1 


1 
Section 4. Malunggay Framework for Development. - The Department of 
2 
Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry, 
3 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, farmer's group, local 
4 
government units, and the private sector, shall formulate a five-year Framework for 
5 
Development, to be validated and updated annually. Such Framework shall serve as 
6 
guide to the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects for the 
7 
production, marketing, processing and distribution of Malunggay for food, 
8 
medicinal, health, and commercial needs, as envisioned in this Act. The Framework 
9 
shall likewise provide for the following: 
10 
11 
a. The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry, 
12 
shall link-up agribusiness cooperatives directly with consumers cooperatives, 
13 
agro-processing companies, or exporters to provide marketing outlets for 
14 
products with malunggay component; 
15 
16 
b. To ensure health and proper trading, the Department of Agriculture shall 
17 
establish and enforce standards in grading, sampling and inspection, tests 
18 
and analysis, specifications, nomenclature, units of measurement, code of 
19 
practice and packaging, preservation, conservation and transportation of 
20 
malunggay; 
21 
22 
c. Technical support on research and extension, infrastructure development, 
23 
financial and market information shall be provided by the Department of 
24 
Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and 
25 
Technology, Cooperative Development Authority, state universities and 
26 
colleges and other relevant government agencies; 
27 
28 
d. Access to post harvest facilities, storage and distribution! transport facilities 
29 
.of existing government agencies shall be facilitated. Assistance shall be given 
30 
to qualified and viable farmers! growers cooperatives in the availment of soft 
31 
loans or grants for the construction of post-harvest, processing and storage 
32 
facilities; 
33 
34 
e. The Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the' state universities 
35 
and colleges, the. Department of Trade and Industry, and farmers 
36 
organizations shall make good seeds and materials readily available to 
2 


1 
2 
fanners/farmers' cooperatives to ensure high yield and good quality of 
malunggay; and 
3 
4 
f. 
The Department of Agriculture shall establish Malunggay Information Center 
5 
in areas identified pursuant to Section 3 of this Act 
6 
7 
Section 5. Malunggay Development Fund (MDF). -
To provide for the 
8 
funding requirements for the production, marketing, and processing of malunggay, 
9 
there is hereby created a Malunggay Development Fund (MDF), with an initial 
10 
amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (p500,OOO,OOO.OO) to be taken from the 
11 
existing budget of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, the MDF shall be 
12 
sourced from the amounts be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act in the 
13 
year following its enactment into law. Other sources of funds, including but not 
, 
14 
limited to borrowings from local and international financial institutions, shall also be 
15 
considered to further support the Fund. 
16 
17 
Section 6. Inter-Agency Committee. -
A Committee, composed of a 
18 
representative from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian 
19 
Reform, the Department of Finance, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Land Bank 
20 
of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Cooperative 
21 
Development Authority, the Department of Science and Technology, the 
22 
Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural 
23 
Resources, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government and one (1) 
24 
each from the small farmers and commercial producers sectors to be designated by 
25 
the Secretary of Agriculture, shall formulate and prescribe, after public hearing and 
26 
publication as required by law, the implementing rules and regulations in order to 
27 
carry out the provisions of this Act. The representatives from the Department of 
28 
Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry shall be the chairman and 
29 
the vice-chairman, respectively, of the Committee. 
30 
The representatives from the government agencies must have a rank of at 
31 
least an Assistant Secretary. 
32 
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall report to both Houses of 
33 
Congress on the status of the implementation of this Act bi-annually. 
34 
35 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. -
All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, 
36 
rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
3 


1 
repealed or modified accordingly: Provided however, That nothing in this Act shall be 
2 
construed or applied as amending the CARL and other laws on agrarian reform. 
3 
4 
Section 8. Separability Clause. -
If any of the provisions of this Act is 
5 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereby not affected thereby 
6 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
7 
8 
Section 9. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect immediately 
9 
following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
10 
11 
Approved, 
4