SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
, First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.B.'N~. 104 
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Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 
Lamie, 
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 
the 20fl, 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.PS. 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 sulphur-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 al., 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 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 
h'eatment 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 P218,000 to P521,000 per hectare/year at P20/kg of 
seeds, if the malunggay trees are planted 2x2 or 3x3 meters apart. Leave 
producers can have an estimated income of P1.43 million per hectare/year at 
P5/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 Ilocos 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 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 medicinal 
purposes, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.g. No.1ll4 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
AN ACT 
'13 
JUl -1 
P 1 :17 
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 2013." 
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 
Agliculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and 
25 
Technology, Cooperative Development Authority, state universities and 
26 
colleges and other relevant government agencies; 
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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; 
3~ 
34 
e. The Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the state universities 
35 
and colleges, the Department of Trade and Industry, and farmers 
2 


1 
organizations shall make good seeds and materials readily available to 
2 
farmers/farmers' cooperatives to ensure high yield and good quality of 
3 
malunggay; and 
4 
5 
f. The Department of Agriculture shall establish Malunggay Information Center 
6 
in areas identified pursuant to Section 3 of this Act 
7 
8 
Section 5. Malunggay Development Fund (MDF). -
To provide for the 
9 
funding requirements for the production, marketing, and processing of malunggay, 
10 
there is hereby created a Malunggay Development Fund (MDF), with an initial 
11 
amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P500,OOO,OOO.OO) to be taken from the 
12 
existing budget of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, the MDF shall be 
13 
sourced from the amounts be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act in the 
14 
year following its enactment into law. Other sources of funds, including but not 
15 
limited to borrowings from local and international financial institutions, shall also be 
16 
considered to further support the Fund. 
17 
18 
Section 6. Inter-Agency Committee. -
A Committee, composed of a 
19 
representative from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian 
20 
Reform, the Department of Finance, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Land Bank 
21 
of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Cooperative 
22 
Development Authority, the Department of Science and Technology, the 
23 
Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural 
24 
Resources, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government and one (1) 
25 
each from the small farmers and commercial producers sectors to be designated by 
26 
the Secretary of Agriculture, shall formulate and prescribe, after public hearing and 
27 
publication as required by law, the implementing rules and regulations in order to 
28 
carry out the provisions of this Act. The representatives from the Department of 
29 
Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry shall be the chairman and 
30 
the vice-chairman, respectively, of the Committee. 
31 
The representatives from the government agencies must have a rank of at 
32 
least an Assistant Secretary. 
33 
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture shall report to both Houses of 
34 
Congress on the status of the implementation of this Act bi-annually. 
35 
3 


1 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. -
All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, 
2 
rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
3 
repealed or modified accordingly: Provided however, That nothing in this Act shall be 
4 
construed or applied as amending the CARL and other laws on agrarian reform. 
S 
6 
Section 8. Separability Clause. -
If any of the provisions of this Act is 
7 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereby not affected thereby 
8 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
9 
10 
Section 9. Effectivity Clause. -
This Act shall take effect immediately 
11 
following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
12 
13 
Approved, 
4 .