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Republic of the Philippines \

House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress

Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 046

Introduced by Honorable Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia

EXPLANATORY N'

This bill seeks to declare Malunggay as the national vegetable of the
Philippines and the month of November as the “National Malunggay Month.”

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) is a fast growing tree in the Philippines
Known as a “miracle vegetable” or “nature’s medicine cabinet” by scientists and
health care workers from around the world, Malunggay is loaded with vitamins and
minerals that can be an effective remedy against many kinds of ailments. It has
been promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the past 20 years as a
low-cost health enhancer in poor countries around the globe.

From the root trunk and branches to the leaves, flowers, fruits and szeds, all
parts of the Malunggay tree are usable for nutritional and medicinal purposes.
According to the Biotechnology Program Office of the Department of Agriculture,
the Malunggay has been found by biochemists and molecular anthropologists to be
rich in vitamins C and A, iron, and high density lipoprotein or good cholesterol. It
is also considered as an effective cure for illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension,
inflammations, infections, cancer and aging issues.

The Malunggay leaves alone contain a powerhouse of nutritional value
seven times the vitamin C in oranges, four times the calcium in milk, four times the
vitamin A in carrots, two times the protein in milk and'three times the potassium in
bananas. Malunggay contains more than 90 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants.
It has 18 amino acids, plenty of omega 3 oils and chlorophyll, plus 45 compounds
with antioxidant properties and 36 anti-inflammatory properties.

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Malunggay trees can also help stabilize the soil and contribute to the fight
against deforestation. Because of its enormous benefits, planting Malunggay plants
is encouraged by the Department of Agriculture. Our country is presently
expanding the local market for Malunggay and its products with the aim of
enhancing the agribusiness potentials of various crops as part of the government’s
poverty-alleviation and health care programs

For the past years, Malunggay in the Philippines has been considered as a
backyard tree. Now we can say that Malunggay can save lives, increase incomes,
generate millions of jobs, utilize vast tracts of idle agricultural lands, make the
Philippines globally competitive, impact local and international market, and help
attain socioeconomic equity. Malunggay tree is one of the most important plants
that deserve national and international promotion and support due to the many bio-
medical endowment and numerous socio-economic benefits that can be derived
from it

In line with the foregoing considerations, Malunggay deserves recognition
by declaring it as the national vegetable of the Philippines and at the same time
declaring the month of November of every year as the “National Malunggay
Month.”

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

MA. col (ale TA

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Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia

DECLARING ©MALUNGGAY AS THE
NATIONAL VEGETABLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR AS THE “NATIONAL MALUNGGAY
MONTH.”

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

SEC

‘TION |. Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) is hereby declared as the
national vegetable of the Philippines and the month of November of every year as
the “National Malunggay Month.”

SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days upon the approval of this Act, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Education, Secretary of Health
and Chairman of the National Commission for-Culture and the Arts, promulgate the
rules and regulation necessary to implement the provisions of this Act

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) da

after publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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