RECEIVED
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2556

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. With its growing popularity as a superfood and its increasing
demands for exports, malunggay is clearly not a typical backyard plant anymore.

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



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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session
5

HOUSE BILL NO.

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 Industry
Development Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. Malunggay or moringa oleifera is a commonly
cultivated plant in the Philippines and is known not just for its nutritional value but for
its medicinal herbal effects. It has been gaining international recognition as a
superfood due to its health benefits,

In line with this, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to continuously
develop the malunggay industry as an agri-business by developing products not just
for local but also for international distribution. It shall also be developed as a major
source of pharmaceutical properties.

The State shall promote malunggay as a means of livelihood for poverty
alleviation; maximize its utilization for health and nutrition; and discover its other
potential co-products.

Toward this end, the State shall establish productivity improvement programs,
provide the needed infrastructure support, enhance research and development on


product diversification, provide extension services, and provide financial assistance to
farmers who are willing to cultivate malunggay.

SEC. 3. Malunggay Industry Development Committee. To carry out the
policies enunciated under this Act, there is hereby established a Malunggay Industry
Development Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee. It shall be
composed of the following:

(a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Chairperson;

(b) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Vice-
Chairperson;

(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);

(f) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd);

(g) One (1) representative from State Universities and Colleges (SUC);

(h) One (1) representative from farmers’ groups concerned with the malunggay
industry; and

(i) One (1) representative from the private sector organizations concerned with the
malunggay industry.

The nominees of the farmers’ groups shall be validated by the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and submitted to the President not later than thirty (30) days following
the effectivity of this Act. The President shall appoint the representative from a list of
nominees submitted by the DA.

The government representatives in the Committee shall serve only during their
respective terms in office. The representatives from the farmers’ groups and the
private sector shall each hold a term of three (3) years unless sooner removed for

cause, and may be reappointed once: Provided, that any appointment to fill a vacancy
in the Committee shall be only for the unexpired term.


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The Committee shall coordinate with the various organizations that are known
to be experts in the industry to organize the Moringa producers, processors, inputs
producers and suppliers, domestic and international marketers, and traders as well as
allied and related industries and aggrupation into an umbrella organization

The Committee may also call upon any department, bureau, office, agency, and
instrumentality of the government for any assistance it may need in the discharge of
its functions and responsibilities.

SEC. 4. Role of Various Government Agencies. The Department of Trade
and Industry (DT!) shall prioritize the development of National Product Standards for
Moringa products and its synchronization and compliance with international product
standards and equivalence. The Department of Finance (DOF), in collaboration with
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP),
Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation (SBGFC) as well as Board of
Investments (BOl), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), shall provide the
financing modalities and mechanisms for funding the loan requirements of the
moringa-based industries.

SEC. 5. Malunggay Framework for Development. The Committee shall
formulate necessary measures, programs and projects for the advancement and
industry-wide development of malunggay, as follows:

(a) Productivity Improvement Programs. To boost the production of
malunggay, the following actions shall be made:
1) Identify the species, breeds or variants, if any, to be used and
developed under this Act;
2) Appropriate land usage in suitable areas to increase and sustain
its productivity and agricultural output;
3) Organize systematic programs that could improve production
through its seeding, cultivation, harvesting and proper processing;
4) Create communal fields and gardens for those in the marginalized
or rural areas to address their problems in food and health care; and
5) Initiate alternative livelihood projects for poverty alleviation


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(b)

Research and Development. The Committee, in coordination with

government research and development institutions, relevant SUCs, and the
private sector, shall intensify research and studies on the propagation of
malunggay to maximize and validate its nutritional and medicinal properties,

and to expand its other possible uses. To attain these, the following actions
shall be made:

(c)

(1) Survey malunggay’s potential in the international markets and
prepare it as one of the Philippines’ major commercial products;

(2) Develop the malunggay food industry by including the various
parts of the plant in food preparation, various recipes and diet for health
benefits;

(3) Explore the possibility of malunggay as a useful agricultural input
(fertilizer) and animal feeds; and

(4) __ Invest in the biofuel potential of malunggay oil as a sustainable
alternative to fossil fuel for the country's power generation and in the
development of new products derived from it.

Market Promotion and Development. The Committee, together with

the concerned government agencies and industry stakeholders, shall endeavor

to:

(d)

(1) Disseminate information regarding its uses and benefits through
the use of advertising, mass media, and information technology;

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

(3) Collaborate with different organizations on the sharing of
information and statistics on the malunggay industry

Extension services.

(1) Encourage and train malunggay farmers to utilize appropriate
agricultural machineries and equipment necessary for the efficient
Planting, cultivation, care and maintenance, harvesting and handling of
malunggay and its by-products;

(2) _ Ensure the availability of good seeds and materials to ensure high
yield and good quality malunggay.

All other programs that will help attain the objectives of this Act and those

that will complement existing programs are also encouraged.


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SEC. 6. Malunggay Industry Development Fund (MIDF). There is
hereby established a Malunggay Industry Development Fund (MIDF) to be
administered by the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of financing the
growth and development of the malunggay industry. The amount necessary for
the initial implementation of this act shall be charged against the current year's
appropriation of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Thereafter, such sums as
maybe necessary for the continued implementation of this act shalll be included
in the General Appropriations Act (GAA)

SEC. 7. National Vegetable of the Philippines. Malunggay is hereby
declared the national vegetable of the Philippines. The malunggay plant merits
this recognition due to its enormous benefits where all parts of the malunggay
tree are endowed with substantial nutritional and medicinal benefits.

SEC. 8. National Malunggay Month. To recognize the importance of
the malunggay plant to the health, social, agricultural, and environmental value,
the month of November is hereby declared as the National Malunggay Month.

SEC. 9. MALUNGGAY INDUSTRY ROADMAP. Upon the effectivity of
this Act, the Committee, in consultation with all the industry players, shall
prepare the malunggay industry roadmap. The Committee may call upon any
instrumentality of government for any assistance it may need in the discharge
of its functions as well as in the implementation of the programs and projects.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Within thirty
(30) days from the date of the constitution of the Committee, it shall formulate
and promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration
shall remain in full force and effect.


Nowe

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive and administrative
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,