NAGA CITY —From being a lowly vegetable in our backyards, moringa oleifera, popularly known as "malunggay" is now making its golden comeback thru the wonders of biotechnology.

With the ardent desire to propel this vision into reality, the Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal Foundation (CCMF), in cooperation with the Kalunggay Farmers of Camarines Sur (KFCS) formally launched their partnership with SECURA International at the Madrigal Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Ateneo de Naga University on December 11, 2007 .

Director Alice Ilaga, director of the Biotechnology Program Office of the Department of Agriculture, said that malunggay is a vegetable with exceptional qualities and uses that are still unknown to many.

Rediscovering other useful aspects of malunggay, she said, would open opportunities and business prospects. This in turn, she added, could be one of the best routes out of poverty that is crippling our society.

According to Ilaga, the Department of Agriculture is now strategically positioning itself for the commercial planting of malunggay seeds for malunggay oil production. They are also building linkages with various national government agencies, particularly with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to study the development package technology using the Nicaraguan experience as a model.

Based on research, malunggay is considered as one of the most nutritious vegetables. It has twice the calcium found in milk, possesses three times the potassium found in bananas and contains ¾ of the iron found in spinach.

Malunggay leaves, flowers and pods are used as cooking ingredients. The oil extracted from its leaves is far superior to olive oil. It also serves as a less costly and readily available alternative natural medicine for common illnesses.

Malunggay can also be used to make other foods more nutritious by simply processing its fresh leaves into powder and adding them to soups, sauces, breads, biscuits and practically in every food that we serve on the table.

The seeds can be used as source of edible oil, medicine, cosmetic ingredient, lubricant ,and as biofuel. The malunggay cake or "sapal" can still be used as biofertilizer, animal food ingredient and can also be used in water treatment.

The signing of the Purchase Agreement between KFCS represented by its president, former Naga City Councilor Julian Lavadia and SECURA International through its president, Danny Manayaga, sealed the partnership that wound bind the two parties in mass-producing the power veggie into a viable commodity.

Aside from Ilaga, the signing was also witnessed by Edna Tejada, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry, Fr. Wilmer Tria, Consuelo Chito Madrigal Foundation executive officer, Dolores Velasco, former World Bank Consultant, Ateneo de Naga president Rev. Fr. Joel E.Tabora, SJ and representatives from various government and private sectors.