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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

_4173

House Bill

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay — Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has been called a "miracle vegetable" and a "super food", but for many Filipinos malunggay --
known internationally as moringa -- is simply a common backyard plant. However, each year
seems to bring about a newly discovered potential use for malunggay, from promoting lactation, to
alleviation of gout, to the reduction of blood glucose for diabetics. Even on its own, malunggay is
packed with nutrition and vitamins, its leaves containing the likes of contain calcium, magnesium,
protein, potassium, chlorophyl, polyphenol, vitamins C, A, B and B2, and the amino acids,
arginine and histidine.!

While at present it is an underutilized resource in our country, it's clear that it would be to the
benefit of the Filipino people if the plant and its industry were given more attention and support,
not only becaus¢ of the health benefits malunggay brings, but the economic ones as well. It is clear
that as more and more uses of malunggay are discovered -- the first international symposium on
the plant and its benefits was held last year, here in Manila -- the demand for it will only increase.
This bill -- filed as a counterpart of Senate Bill No. 319 with the support of its author, Senator
Cynthia Villar -- aims to promote the development of the malunggay industry, create the
malunggay development fund, as well as establish a national malunggay month.

Aven 4 Kelnn
EMMELINE Y. AGLIPAY - VILLAR
Representative, DIWA Party-list

* http://entertainment.inquirer.net/174969/malunggay-as-a-superfood

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BilNe. 178

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Vil

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 Republic ofthe Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Title - This act shall be known as the "Malunggay Development Act of 2016."

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

SECTION 3. Development of the Malunggay Industry - The Department of Agriculture (DA), in
consultation with the Department of Science and Technology, state universities and colleges, farmer
groups, local government units, and the private sector, shall formulate necessary measures, programs
and projects for the advancement and industry-wide development of malunggay, as follows:

Industry-Wide Development

a, Appropriate land usage for malunggay to increase and sustain its productivity and agricultural
output.

b. 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 moringa
oleifera to maximize and verify its nutritional and medicinal properties, and to diversify its
other possible uses.

4d, 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 concemed with promotion of
information and statistics on malunggay industry.

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

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

i. 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.

al feed to

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4. Create malunggay communal fields and gardens for those in the marg
to address their problems in food and health care and to somehow attain self-sufficiency in the
rising needs of today’s populace.

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

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

SECTION 4. National Malunggay Month - In recognition and providing 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.

SECTION 5. Malunggay Development Fund (MDF) - To provide for the funding requirements for
the production, marketing, and processing of malunggay, it is hereby created a Malunggay
Development Fund (MDF), with an initial amount of Fifty Million Pesos (PSO, 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.

SECTION 6. 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.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
any newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,

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