A panel in the House of Representatives has backed proposals to develop and strengthen the malunggay industry in the country.
The House committee on agriculture and food, chaired by ANAC-IP Party-list Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr., approved and consolidated the bills that would put malunggay at the forefront because it is considered a superfood.
The first bill, House Bill 3908, authored by deputy speaker and Bulacan Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, intends to promote the production, processing, marketing and distribution of moringa oleifera or malunggay.
In her sponsorship remarks, Villarica said now is the time for the government to intervene and develop the Moringa industry given the many benefits of malunggay.
“Studies have shown that 100 grams of Moringa leaves contain nine times the protein of yogurt, 10 times the Vitamin A of carrots, 15 times the potassium of bananas, 17 times the calcium of milk, and 12 times the Vitamin C of oranges,” she said.
Under Villarica’s bill, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be tasked to formulate a five-year development framework for the implementation of plans, projects and programs for the production, marketing, processing and distribution of malunggay for food, medicinal and commercial needs.
The second bill, HB 6555, titled: “An Act Establishing A National Program For The Malunggay Industry, Appropriating Funds Therefor And For Other Purposes” is penned by deputy speaker.and AAMBIS-OWA party-list Rep. Sharon Garin.
“Internationally, malunggay is getting more accepted. It is endemic to the Philippines so we won’t need any complicated technology,” Garin said, adding that it is time for malunggay to take the forefront because it is considered a superfood.
The third bill, HB 417 authored by Rep. DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar seeks to establish a national program for the malunggay industry.
Aglipay-Villar said that while at present malunggay is an underutilized resource in the country, it is clear it would be to the benefit of the Filipino people if the plant and its industry were given more attention and support.
“Not only because 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 demand for it will increase,” she said.
Lastly, HB 6954 filed by Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promotes a “vibrant and viable” malunggay-based agro-industries that will support the agri-industrialization initiatives of the Duterte administration and address the nutritional deficiency problems common in the countryside and urban slums.
“It can increase multifarious and varied on-farm, off-farm and non-farm enterprise incomes, generate millions of jobs, utilize vast tracts of idle agricultural lands and urban spaces, make the Philippines globally competitive, impact local and international market and help attain food security and safety, poverty reduction and socio-economic equity,” Arroyo said.