NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBUC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Third Regular Session 
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SENATE
25 FE3-4 ,^4:24
Senate Bill No. 2978
HI'
(In Substitution of Senate Bill No. 1255 and 2713)
Prepared by the Committees on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform; Trade, 
Commerce and Entrepreneurship; Finance with Senator Imee R. Marcos and Senator
Cynthia A. Villar as authors thereof
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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Moringa
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Development Act."
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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develop and promote a globally competitive moringa industry with the objective of
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increasing moringa farmers, income, addressing the nutritional and health needs of
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our people, and encouraging trade and industry.
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SEC. 3. Development of Moringa. - The Department of Agriculture (DA), in
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consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
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Department of Science and Technology (DOST), moringa growers' cooperatives and
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organizations, local government units, and the private sector, shall formulate a one-
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year framework to be validated and updated annually. Such framework shall serve as
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guide to the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects for the
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production, marketing, processing and distribution of moringa for food and


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commercial needs, as envisioned in this Act. The framework shall likewise provide for
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the following:
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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 (GFIs) and other financial 
cooperatives. The DA and DTI shall 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 strategic export 
promotion program for 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
e. 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.


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SEC. 4. Designating the Department of Agricuiture-High Vaiue Crops
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Deveiopment Program (DA-HVCDP) as the Office in Charge in the Development of the
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Moringa Industry- The DA-HVCDP is hereby tasked to implement the development of
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the Moringa Industry. The Department of Agriculture shall allocate an annual budget
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to said office pursuant to its additional task of developing the Moringa Industry.
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SEC. 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.
SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be 
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof not affected 
shall remain in force and effect.
SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,