Japanese group to build $200M LED plant in PH

A Japanese group plans to build a $200-million light-emitting diode (LED) light factory in the Philippines by the end of the year.

Once developed, it is expected to become one of the world’s largest LED light factories, according to Japan Environment Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Jented).

Jented said the plant’s planned output is around one million units a year of LED lights.

LED lights are more expensive but technologically superior to conventional lighting systems in the market.

They are more efficient (more lumens per watt), radiate less heat, shock resistant (compared to the fragile nature of both incandescent and fluorescent lighting), and last longer (up to 50,000 hours lifetime compared to incandescent’s 2,000 hours and fluorescent’s 15,000 hours), according to Jented country representative Rod Cabrera.

Cabrera also said Jented’s lighting system is much lighter than other brands and is easy to install.

“We’re glad that we can offer the best production lighting technology that is made in the Philippines and powered by Japan,” he said.

Cabrera said that Jented will partner with Tagaytay Mountain Peak Corp. (TMPC), a local development company, to complete the project.

TMPC chairman Lee Jong Hoon said the group was exploring a potential factory site in Laguna.

Yoshiyuki Ikeda, president of GEM of Japan, and Kimihiko Kitahara, Jented executive director, said that they were bullish on the prospects of the LED lighting business, not only in the Philippines but also in the United States, Europe and Asia where they plan to export their products.

They also said the project would not only generate local employment but also help put the Philippines on the lighting industry map.