Japanese lens maker with tax holiday hikes production in Batangas plant

Tanauan City, BATANGAS—Japanese lens maker Hoya has bought new equipment to make more corrective lenses in its factory in the Philippines, mainly for markets overseas.

Ellen Vergara, finance general manager of Hoya’s Philippine unit EHS Lens Philippines Inc., said the company has invested already more than P5 billion on its plant in this city which produces two kinds of lenses—stock and prescription.

Vergara said EHS has been benefiting from an income tax holiday since 2013. The tax break has been extended for another two years in February this year, after EHS had proven that it was a “pioneer” in the corrective lens industry.

Alberto De Los Reyes Jr., president of EHS, said the plant currently has 2,000 workers. Up to 500 more workers could be added as a result of additional capacity.

An increase in demand prompted the decision to increase production, according to the company officials.

According to Jennifer Rayala, managing director of Hoya Lens Phils. Inc., said customers are “very aware of the quality of the lens.”

Each prescription lens is tailor fit to customers’ requirements. Orders, which reach millions in a year, are manufactured daily at the plant./TSB