DHVSU, trade office launch modern FabLab

BACOLOR -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU), recently launched modern equipment intended to develop micro, small and medium entrepreneurship (MSMEs) in Central Luzon.

DTI officials led by Assistant Secretary Blesilda Lantayona and DHVSU president Dr. Enrique Baking led the opening of the Upgraded Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) at the university's Research and Extension Services Innovation Center. It is one of the first in the region.

DTI-Central Luzon Director Judith Angeles, in her speech, shared how the modern technological laboratory came in and was finally implemented in the country, as well as its purpose in assisting MSM entrepreneurs.

She noted that FabLabs, which are defined as small-scale workshops offering digital fabrication, will be beneficial to local MSMEs, particularly in speeding up their production process and improving the quality of their products through the help of an array of flexible computer-controlled tools that cover several different length scales and various materials found in the facility.

Lantayona, for her part, said the formal launch of the FabLab is a realization of a dream to provide modern equipment that will be fully utilized by MSM entrepreneurs to further boost their productions.

"The Philippines is still way behind other developed countries in terms of implementation of FabLabs, but the DTI, in partnership with national agencies and state universities, is making progress in enhancing their facilities for the use of MSMEs," she said.

Citing FabLabs in China, Lantayona also stressed the importance of benchmarking and networking with the International Network of Fablabs to enable the local facility users to learn from best practices.

Baking, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to DTI for choosing DHVSU as the venue of the FabLab and emphasized the importance of partnership, networking and collaboration in fully utilizing the Fabrication Laboratory equipment.

"The university will surely maximize the presence of FabLab facility since we already have venue and competent personnel to maintain it. And we are looking forward to seeing the equipment being used by the intended clients who are the MSMEs of Pampanga and Central Luzon," he said.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Central Luzon Assistant Regional Director Wilfredo Sibal, meanwhile, assured stakeholders of the agency's support to the facility through its Set-Up program.

"DOST is always ready to support the FabLab project of DTI and the innovation centers of educational institutions through technical assistance," he said.

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