CLARK FREEPORT – The Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) has been accused here of virtual colonial mentality
by being partial to moringa or malunggay health supplements imported from the US while allegedly ignoring local producers.
In a resolution, delegates to the 5th Moringa Congress held here recently accused BFAD of “taking too much time to accredit local products with high components of moringa for food supplement,” while giving “more advanced accreditation of similar products” from abroad.
“This negatively impacts on the growth of the moringa industry for medical and food supplements in the country,” said the resolution which also noted the abundance of moringa in the country and lower cost of locally powdered version.
The resolution cited a US pharmaceutical company that exports moringa capsules to the Philippines at the cost of P8.50 per capsule in local drug stores. “Local producers are obviously put into a disadvantage due to absence
of BFAD accreditation,” noted the resolution passed during the congress attended by delegates from the pharmaceutical, nutrition, and medical industries.
The resolution noted that “testing and accreditation of locally produced moringa products will encourage many moringa growers, processors and drug corporations.” “The faster accreditation will result to more jobs resulting to more inclusive growth pursued by the government,” it added.
The moringa congress urged Health Sec. Enrique Ona “to order BFAD to fast track the accreditation of applications
of local manufacturers of moringa products as health supplements. In another resolution, participants in the moringa congress also urged Sec. Mario Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to order the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) “to hasten research in moringa promotion and use.”
“Inspite of policy pronouncements of DOST some 10 years ago, the lack of use of moringa in nutrition programs for school children and pregnant and nursing mothers are notable,” the resolution said. It noted that “inspite of the fact that the FNRI has moringa as its logo, moringa remains only as logo.”
Noting that moringa “is the most nutritious source of vitamins, minerals and protein among all food sources” and that its protein “has similar essential amino acids as milk, fish and meat,” the congress also issued yet a third resolution urging the Department of Education to require the planting of maluggay trees in all public schools nationwide for the benefit of the pupils.
It also said that the planting of more moringa trees could open livelihood opportunities for the poor amid alleged increasing demand abroad for powdered form of moringa.
