HOUSEHOLD equipment manufacturer Hocheng Philippines Corp. plans to assemble “anti-virus” products in the Philippines, the Board of Investments (BoI) said in a press release on Tuesday.
The company’s thermal scanner and rubbing alcohol dispenser called LENUS will also be distributed in the country, the agency added.
The dispenser product’s voice prompt alerts users approaching the device without a face mask, reminding them to do so. Hocheng Philippines plans to sell LENUS to hospitals, health-care facilities, business establishments, and direct to consumers.
Hocheng Philippines’ parent company Hocheng Corp. is a Taiwan-based bathroom equipment manufacturer that sells hygiene porcelains, water supply copper wares, bath tubs, and kitchenware.
The local firm, which builds kitchen fixtures at a Cavite facility, generates P1.7 billion in annual revenues.
The BoI said that it had been encouraging companies manufacturing products designed to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to invest in the Philippines. These products include medical supplies and electronic components.
“We are positioning the Philippines as a complementary host country to target companies, particularly those looking into diversifying their business locations to sustain and enhance competitiveness,” Trade Undersecretary and BoI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said.
“By enticing them to invest in these industries, the outcome is a win-win for both businesses and the country. While we make their enterprises grow, we attract the highly-desirable investments that will serve the public interest, especially in this time of the health crisis.”
Investment pledges approved by the BoI in the first two months of 2021 grew 156% to P121.9 billion. The agency targets P1.25 trillion in total approved investments this year. — Jenina P. Ibañez
