AGGIE UPDATE

Planting malunggay
FREDDIE LAZARO

VIGAN CITY – Never underestimate the “lowly” malunggay. National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Domingo Panganiban urged the local officials and residents to continue planting malunggay trees at vacant lots citing benefits derived from it. Secretary Panganiban was recently here in the province to attend a meeting of agencies involved in the implementation of the national KALAHI convergence program. The meeting was held at a beach resort in Cabugao.

He said that there are significant food nutrients that can be derived from malunggay. "A cup of malunggay leaves boiled with hot water is equivalent to three glasses of milk, and it is equivalent to five pieces of carrots in terms of calcium or potassium, beta carotene and Vitamin A."

"It is also equivalent of four pieces of banana, lakatan variety," Panganiban said. "Malunggay leaves when grounded into powder are best and nutritious ingredient in baking bread."

The secretary lauded the efforts of Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor "DV "B. Savellano to go "back to basic" in agriculture, noting the newly created 16-hectare barangay demo farm in Barangay Labnig, San Juan town.

In the plant section of the Demo farm, more than 500 malunggay plants are seen growing on the sides of plots and near the pheriperal fences. The demo farm has large plots of assorted vegetables, called the "pinakbet garden," sweet corn, soya beans, peanuts, pigeon pea, hundreds of jackfruit trees, hundreds of banana plants, hundreds of coconut trees, malunggay trees, sunflowers, hundreds katuday trees, mongo, sorghum and tobacco.

Being raised in the animal section of the farm are several heads of cattle, carabaos, goats, native pigs, sheeps, chicken, geese, turkey, and fighting cocks.

Upon assumption of office last year, Governor Savellano started the massive planting of malunggay in the province.

"A malunggay tree is easier to grow, and it does not need fertilizer or irrigation but only "TLC" or the ‘tender loving and care,’" Secretary Panganiban said.

Studies in the Philippines and other countries shown that malunggay is nature’s "medicine" with all the parts of the tree, besides the leaves, having medicinal or therapeutic value.

The leaves of malunggay, dubbed as "miracle tree," are discovered to be most nutritious bio-food on earth because it contains various nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin A (beta carotene), Vitamin C, iron, potassium, minerals, and amino acids.

The leaves and flowers of malunggay are ideal food for breastfeeding mothers, malnourished children and the elderly.

The leaves can also help in the treatment of headache, bleeding caused by a shallow cut or wound, insect bites, bacterial or fungal skin, gastric ulcers and and diarrhea. The pods are used in the treatment for worm, liver, and spleen problems, and joint pains.

Malunggay is also known to fight cancer. Scientists reported that it can hike male potency by spurring more sperm production.

The seeds of malunggay, when mixed with coconut oil or with its seed oil, can be used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, gout, cramps, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), urinary problems, epilepsy, and boils. The seeds are also good for water purification or cleaning contaminated water.