Group pushes for ‘malunggay’ as national veggie

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Moringaling Foundation Inc. (MFI) is pushing for the naming of the miracle plant “malunggay” (moringa) as the national vegetable of the Philippines.

MFI founder and chairman Bernadette Arellano said the request is now with the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“Our first committee hearing at the Senate is scheduled on September 4 this year. We are hopeful the House bill will be approved as it is being sponsored by Senator Francis Pangilinan and the three representatives of Pangasinan,” said Arellano.

“It is but logical since we have a national hero, a national tree and a national flower. The malunggay or Moringa, being a miracle plant and your ‘botika sa bakuran,’ with all its health and nutritive values, deserves to be our national vegetable,” she added.

The lecture on the malunggay’s health values and nutritional content was delivered by Dr. Isidro Sia of the University of the Philippines. David Makin, Ph.D. from the Malunggay Propagation Company LTD spoke about the economic potentials and business alternatives in propagating the vegetable.