Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6555

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Malunggay, is a commonly cultivated plant in the Philippines and is known not just for its
nutritional value but also for its medicinal herbal effects. Malunggay has a scientific name of
‘moringa oleifera, and is known in English by the following common names: moringa, drumstick
tree, horseradish tree, ben oil tree or benzoil tree.

‘Malunggay has been gaining international recognition as a “superfood” rich in nutrients and
minerals as well as abundant in anti-oxidants. Filipinos consume the leaves, flowers and fruits (pods)
of the malunggay as vegetables. Malunggay leaves contain protein, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron,
beta-carotine, vitamins B1, B2, B3, and C. Regular consumption of malunggay can lead to healthy
benefits like normalizing blood sugar levels, preventing malnutrition and micronutirent deficiency,
and strengthening the immune system, to name a few. Malunggay has also long been used as an
herbal medicine, although not all of its reported medicinal properties have been scientifically proven,
One scientifically proven effect though, is that it increases milk flow in lactating mothers.

For all of its benefits, it is surprising that most people simply consider the malunggay an
ordinary backyard plant, and isn’t a staple in the Filipino’s diet. Although recently, malunggay has
been in the spotlight, judging from the number of products being marketed here, ranging from
malunggay chips, malunggay powder, malunggay tea, malunggay capsules and even malunggay oil.

This bill would like to continue this trend, and provide for more institutional support to the
malunggay industry; to establish it as an agri-business and develop products capable of not just local
but also international distribution; to encourage its consumption among Filipinos to take advantage
of its numerous health benefits; and to promote it as a viable crop for small and backyard farming for
poverty alleviation.

In view of the forgoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

SI S. GARIN
AAMBIS-Owa Partylist


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo._ 6555 __

Introduced by Representative Sharon S. Garin

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE MALUNGGAY INDUSTRY,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title — This act shall be known as the "Malunggay Development Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
continuously develop the malunggay industry as an agri-business and a major source of
pharmaceutical properties through improvement of research and development; to promote it
as a means of livelihood for poverty alleviation, and; to maximize its utilization for health
and nutrition, and discover its other potential co-products.

SEC. 3. Malunggay Development Committee — The Malunggay Development
Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, is hereby constituted and shall be
composed of the following:

a. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Chairman;

b. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
c. Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

d. Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH);

e. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);


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One (1) representative from State Universities and Colleges;

. One (1) representative from farmers group concerned with the ma/unggay industry;

One (1) representative from the private sector, or organizations concerned with the

malunggay industry;

SEC. 4. Development of the Malunggay Industry ~The Committee shall formulate

necessary measures, programs and projects for the advancement and industry-wide

development of malunggay, as follows

Industry-Wide Development

Identify the exact species, sub-species, breeds, or variants, if any, of malunggay to be
used and developed through this act;

Appropriate land usage for malunggay to increase and sustain its productivity and

agricultural output;

. Organize systematic programs that could improve production of malunggay through

its seeding, cultivation, harvesting and proper processing;

Augment and initiate intensive scientific research and studies over the propagation of
‘malunggay to maximize and verify its nutritional and medicinal properties, and to
diversify its other possible uses;

Disseminate information regarding malunggay's uses and benefits, along with its
products to stir awareness through the public through the use of advertising, mass
media, and information technology;

Share information on agricultural and manufacturing practice to determine market
opportunities for potential stakeholders;

Collaborate with different organizations whose incorporators are concerned with

promotion of information and statistics on ma/unggay industry;


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h. Explore possibility of malunggay as a useful agricultural input (fertilizer) and animal
feed to the farming sector, which can lessen their expenses over commercialized ones;

i. Survey malunggay’s potential as an organic wonder in the international markets and
prepare it as one of the Philippines’ major commercial products;

j. Develop the malunggay food industry and incorporate its different parts through food
preparation, various recipes and diet because of its healthy contribution to the people's
well-being;

k. Create malunggay communal fields and gardens for those in the marginalized or rural
areas as to address their problems in food and health care and to somehow attain self-
sufficiency in the rising needs of today's populace;

1. Initiate alternative livelihood projects involving malunggay for poverty alleviation
and development of new products derived from them;

m. Invest in the biofuel potential of malunggay oil as a sustainable alternative to fossil
fuel for the country's power generation.

SEC. 5. National Malunggay Month — To recognize and to provide importance to the
health, social, agricultural, and environmental value of the malunggay plant, the month of
November will be declared as the National Malunggay Month.

SEC. 6. Malunggay Development Fund (MDF) ~ To provide for the funding
requirements for the production, marketing, and processing of malunggay, there is hereby
created a Malunggay Development Fund (MDF), with an initial amount of Fifty Million
Pesos (P50,000,000.00) to be taken from the existing budget of the Department of
Agriculture. Thereafter, the MDF shall be sourced from the amounts be appropriated in the

General Appropriations Act in the year following its enactment into law.


SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ~ The Committee shall, within
ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the rules and regulations for its
effective implementation

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause — All laws, orders, decrees, rules and regulations, or any
part thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall Lake effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,