House OKs bill making malunggay national vegetable

MANILA, Philippines—Does the so-called “miracle vegetable,” the moringa, or malunggay, deserve to be the Philippines’ national vegetable?

The House of Representatives thinks so, unanimously approving on third and final reading on Monday night the bill that would make malunggay a national symbol, and designate November as national malunggay month.

The measure’s main author is Pangasinan Rep. Gina de Venecia, who said in her explanatory note that the malunggay tree provides numerous health benefits as well as many livelihood opportunities that could help make the Philippines globally competitive.

“[The] malunggay tree is one of the most important plants that deserve national and international promotion due to the many biomedical endowment [sic] and numerous socioeconomic benefits that can be derived from it,” De Venecia said.

She noted that scientists and health workers have dubbed the malunggay a “miracle vegetable” or “nature’s medicine cabinet,” while the World Health Organization promotes it as a low-cost health enhancer in poor countries—Leila B. Salaverria