Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4078

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA.
2"! District, Hocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Moringa (Moringa oleifera), locally known as malunggay, is widely
regarded as a “miracle tree" for its exceptional nutritional, medicinal, and
economic benefits. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino
acids, making it an effective natural remedy for malnutrition and various
health conditions. Despite its proven value and widespread availability in the
Philippines, the full potential of moringa as a food supplement, health
product, and export commodity remains largely untapped.

The Philippines has the ecological advantage and indigenous
knowledge to become a global leader in moringa production. However, the
lack of a comprehensive framework for its development from scientific
research, sustainable cultivation, post-harvest processing, investment
promotion, to export facilitation continues to hamper the industry’s growth
and its capacity to contribute to national development.

This bill seeks to institutionalize a comprehensive development plan
for the moringa industry, to be led by the Department of Agriculture (DA), in
coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), local
government units (LGUs), moringa farmers’ cooperatives, and other
stakeholders. It aims to strengthen scientific research, enhance support for
moringa farmers, encourage public-private investments, and promote export
readiness of moringa-based products.

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

ANGELO ‘COS BARBA.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4078

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
24 District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT URGING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT,
AND EXPORT PROMOTION OF THE MORINGA (MORINGA OLEIFERA)
LOCALLY KNOWN AS “MALUNGGAY”, AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Moringa
Development Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the State to
develop and promote a globally competitive moringa industry with the objective
moringa industry with the objective of increasing moringa farmers’ income addressing
the nutritional and health need of our people, and encouraging trade and industry.

SECTION 3. Development of Moringa. -The Department of Agriculture (DA),
in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Department of Science and Technology (DOST), moringa growers’ cooperatives and
organizations, local government units, and the private sector, shall formulate a one year
framework to be validated and updated annually.

Such framework shall serve as guide to the formulation and implementation of
plans, programs, and projects for the production for the production, marketing,
processing, and distribution of moringa for food and commercial needs, as envisioned in
this Act. The framework shall likewise provide for the following:


(a) National Framework -The DA, DOST, state universities and colleges
(SUCs) and other stakeholders shall strengthen the conduct of
researches on moringa particularly on areas of crop improvement, crop
protection, harvesting and postharvest handling supply chain analysis,
marketing and promotion;

(b) Investment Promotion and Facilitation - The DA and DTI shall
develop programs establishing links between stakeholders in the
moringa industry and Government Financial Institutions (GFls) and
other financial cooperatives. The DA and DTI shalll likewise develop
and implement programs that would establish reasonable and
innovative investment incentive to attract more players in the moringa
industry;

(c) Export Promotion Support - An integrated and a strategic export
promotion program for the moringa industry shall be created. The
export promotion program shall be responsive to market conditions,
needs of the exporters, and possibilities offered by new products and
technologies. It shall likewise provide foreign trade and export
promotion activities through trainings,technical assistance, capacity
building, generating awareness on export opportunities and export
planning assistance;

(d) Strengthen Trade Policies and Support Network - The DA shall be
responsible in coordinating a consultative approach for the various
stages of the trade policy making process. The Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) shall lead the negotiation of Free Trade Agreements
(FTAs) to provide a competitive environment for moringa exports
abroad; and

(©) Monitoring and Evaluation - The DA shall continuously monitor,
track, and analyze the progress and outcomes of the programs to be
implemented to determine over-all effectiveness.

SECTION 4. Designating the Department of Agriculture-High
Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP) as the Office in
Charge in the Development of the Moringa Industry. - The
DA-HVCDP is hereby tasked to implement the development of the Moringa
Industry. The Department of Agriculture shall allocate an annual budget to
said office pursuant to its additional task of developing the Moringa Industry.

SECTION 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
‘Thereafter, such funds as may be necessary for the continued implementation
of this Act shall be included in the succeeding annual GAA.


SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this
Act that is declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying
other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can
still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SECTION 7. Repeating Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules, and
regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. 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,