HB01863: AN ACT DECLARING MALUNGGAY (MORINGA) AS "THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE OF THE PHILIPPINES" AND THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR AS "THE NATIONAL MALUNGGAY MONTH"
This bill seeks to declare Malunggay (Moringa) as the national vegetable of the Philippines and November as "National Malunggay Month". Malunggay is a fast-growing tree in the Philippines, often called a "miracle vegetable" or "nature's medicine cabinet" due to its rich vitamin and mineral content. It has been promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a low-cost health enhancer and is known to be rich in vitamins C and A, iron, and good cholesterol. All parts of the Malunggay tree are usable for nutritional and medicinal purposes, with its leaves alone containing significantly more vitamin C than oranges, calcium and protein than milk, and vitamin A than carrots. It is also considered an effective remedy for various illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
The bill also emphasizes that Malunggay can provide numerous benefits, such as saving lives, increasing incomes, generating jobs, and enhancing the country's agribusiness potential. The Department of Agriculture encourages planting Malunggay due to its enormous benefits and its potential to impact local and international markets. The proposed Act mandates the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretaries of Education and Health and the Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, to create the necessary rules and regulations for its implementation.