Loren seeks nat’l funding for ‘malunggay’ prod’n

MANILA – The government must create a national funding program to fully maximize the potentials of the vegetable malunggay.

In Senate Bill 104, or the “Malunggay Development Act,” Sen. Loren Legarda proposed to allocate P1 billion for the production, marketing and processing of malunggay, or horseradish.

Filipino households use malunggay leaves in cooking vegetable soups or making salads, according to Legarda.

Its oil content, which contains a high level of protein, can also be used as cooking oil, she said.
Malunggay seeds are also useful in wastewater treatment units, Legarda said, citing a study conducted by the Technical University in Nicaragua.

“Because of the many uses of malunggay, the government should formulate a sustainable framework for development that will serve as guide in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects for the distribution of malunggay for food, medicinal, health, and commercial needs,” she said.
Under Legarda’s bill, the Department of Agriculture shall identify areas suitable for planting and propagating malunggay.

Source: Panay News