Philippine Orchard Corporation to launch Tisay Rice for health, affordability

The Philippine Orchard Corporation is set to introduce Tisay Rice, a new rice variety designed to support healthier and more affordable living for Filipinos.

Expected to enter the market within two months, Tisay Rice is positioned as a budget-friendly option compared to regular rice, according to Noel Puyat of the Philippine Orchard Corporation in an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE on 16 June.

"Normally, when you cook rice, one cup of uncooked rice with one to one and a half cups of water yields about two cups of cooked rice. With our innovation, one cup of uncooked rice and two and a half to three cups of water yields four cups of cooked rice," Puyat explained.

He noted that based on research, the average Filipino family consumes around three kilos of rice daily.

"With Tisay Rice, families would only need to buy three kilos every other day. If a household spends around P4,050 on rice monthly, they could save up to 50%. That’s P2,025 which they can use for other essential needs," he added.

Puyat also highlighted the rice’s health benefits, pointing out its lower glycemic index.

"The beauty of this product is that it has the same health characteristics as brown rice, but it looks like white rice. The glycemic index is just 51, compared to the usual 89," he said.

Alfonso Puyat, founder of the Philippine Orchard Corporation, elaborated:

"A glycemic index above 61 is considered bad food, while below that is acceptable. Tisay Rice is also rich in vitamin B1, which helps prevent beriberi, and its high fiber content is beneficial for those managing abdominal weight."

Noel Puyat expressed appreciation for Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s support for regenerative farming and farmer welfare.

“Thanks to Sec. Kiko Tiu Laurel of the Department of Agriculture. He reached out to us and asked about our regenerative farming technology. With DA’s support and our partnership with the Unified Tiller Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC) in Region II, we signed a memorandum of agreement with Landbank. They will be extending the Agrisenso Plus Finance Program through UTAC as the anchor point cooperative to assist the onboarding and distributing regenerative farming technology to thousands of farmers,” he said.

Puyat concluded by sharing the company’s vision: “Our goal is for Tisay Rice to help zero-out rice importation in the Philippines.”