The document summarizes the beginnings of FabLabs in the Philippines, starting with the first FabLab in Bohol. It describes the response to the "How to Make Almost Anything" class at MIT that led to the creation of field FabLabs around the world. The first FabLabs opened in 2002 in countries like India, Costa Rica, Norway, Boston and Ghana. It then details the hurdles overcome in establishing the first FabLab in Bohol, Philippines, including issues of sustainability, funding, approvals, procurement, and launch. It provides an overview of the subsequent growth of FabLabs across the Philippines and Asia.

1. Beginnings of Philippine FabLabs
January 25, 2017 | Slingshot Maker Edition | Cebu City
* Planting ideas will foster critical thinking
and will bring alternatives. Planting critical
thinking will foster alternatives and will
bring ideas.

3. FabLab: Beginnings
In his book entitled “Fab” Dr. Gershenfeld described
the “How To Make Almost Anything” class
phenomenon at MIT:
First Surprise:
The overwhelming interest from students with very
little technical experience.
Second Surprise:
Students were motivated by the desire to make
things they’d always wanted, but that did not exist.
Third Surprise:
Starting out with skills more suited to arts and
crafts than advanced engineering, students
routinely and single-handedly managed to design
and build complete functioning systems.
The learning process was driven by demand for,
rather than supply of, knowledge…….

4. FabLab: Beginnings
The overwhelming response to the “How to Make Almost
Anything” class led to the launch of a project to create field
fablabs for exploring the implications and applications for
personal fabrication in those parts of the planet that don’t
get to MIT…..

5. FabLab: Beginnings
Starting in 2002, the first fablabs went to rural
India, Costa Rica, northern Norway, inner-city
Boston and Ghana
The response in the field was as immediate as
it had been at MIT.

6. 2016
1047 Fablabs in 101 Countries

9. The establishment of the first fablab
in the Philippines was in response to
a product development pain point

10. Yutaka Tokushima, JOCV Volunteer for
DTI-Bohol (2012-2014) for Product
Development was a designer for
Toshiba Medical

11. The Case for Establishing FabLab Bohol

12. DTI-Bohol did not need much convincing…...but
needed to resolve some major issues

13. Hurdle #1 : Sustainability Issues
• Sustainability of the facility was
deemed a major concern
• DTI-Bohol thought that setting up the
FabLab inside the Bohol Island State
University would partly address this:
-Support coming from other Local and
-Demand coming from BISU students
National government entities
• DTI-Bohol was instrumental in
convincing BISU to offer a course on
Industrial Design and the fablab would
be a relevant facility

14. Hurdle #2 : Fund Sourcing
• First Source: DOST-RVII
DOST R-VII RD Burt Llanto did not need much
convincing ….. Immediately committed DOST-
GIA funds of P1-M per year for 3 years.
Used his influence as a member of the BISU
Board of Regents to convince BISU to support
the project
• Second Source: JICA
Yutaka submits proposal and negotiates with
JICA
• Third Source: BISU
BISU committed to provide and refurbish a
space for the fablab
Fourth Source: DTI-SSF Funds
Late in 2013 SSF funds guidelines were
changed…. This time to include State
Universities!......It was only at this time
that DTI-Bohol was able to commit fund
support

15. Hurdle #3 : Getting the Project Approved
DTI (at the time) had no knowledge of digital fabrication much more a
fabrication laboratory (fablab). DTI-Bohol had to build a strong
case to get project support and have it approved.

16. Hurdle #4 : Procurement
A fablab is supposed to have standard equipment like a big CNC milling machine, a
small CNC machine, vinyl printer, laser cutter, an electronics work bench and video
conferencing capability. It was also decided that a 3D printer would be relevant.
Eventually an embroidery machine was also added.
Specifications were determined and since equipment funds will be coming from
several sources it was decided that JICA would fund the Shopbot (big CNC machine)
and the Laser Cutter. DTI would fund the Print and Cut Machine, Electronics
Workbench, 3D Printer, Video Conferencing equipment and Embroidery machine.
DOST-VII funded the small CNC milling machine.

17. Hurdle #5 : Launch - FabLab Bohol
In 2014, President Aquino decided to do May1 (Labor Day) Events outside of Manila
and Malacanang scouted for projects for the President to visit.
DTI proposed the launch of FabLab Bohol but since May 1 was also the Fiesta of
Tagbilaran City, Malacanang approved a May 2 launch with the President attending.
FabLab Bohol was the first DTI SSF that was launched by a President.
The event and FabLab Bohol caught national attention
The rest is history…….. We now have about 12(?)
DTI-funded Fablabs all over the country.

18. Hurdle #5 : Launch - FabLab Asia Network (FAN1)
• FabLab Asia Network (FAN) was also organized in Bohol during the occasion of
the FabLab Bohol launch
• Since then…. FAN2 in Taiwan (2015) and FAN3 in India (Jan 2017)

20. Fablab Bohol
PSHS Quezon Fablab
Fablab UP Cebu
Fablab Mindanao
Fablab Bicol
Fablab Ilocos
Fablab UP Diliman
Fablab Santiago
Fablab Zamboanga
Fablab Davao
Fablab Marikina
Fablab Clark
Fablab Bacolor
Fablab Bohol Fablab Marikina
Fablab UP Cebu Fablab UP Diliman
Fablab Mindanao Fablab Bicol
Fablab Ilocos Fablab Santiago
Fablab Clark Fablab Bacolor
Fablab PSHS Quezon

21. Hurdle #6 : Operationalization of FabLab Bohol and Beyond
• Learning/Understanding the FabLab Culture
• Staffing and Organizational Structure
• Sustainability Business Model (Usage Fees, etc)
• HR Capacity Development
• University Funding and Other Sources
• Getting Community Interest and Support
• Making the fablab relevant to local MSME Development
• Promoting a culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Establishment of Target/Accomplishment Metrics (from JICA Study)
Unfair Advantage:
Support and Guidance from
JOCV/JICA Volunteer
Designers
Fund Support for Trainings
and Product Development
from DTI that boosted
Community Engagement

22. FABLAB UP CEBU
• Existence of DTI-Funded (Public) and Private-Funded FabLabs/Makerspaces
• DTI-Funded fablabs in various stages of development
• Several academic institutions have some sort of makerspace
• Very little learning, sharing and networking among existing fablabs and
makerspaces
• Community engagement might be a challenge to some
• Seriously need to grow a pool of HR skilled in digital design and fabrication
Where Are We Now?

23. Venue for networking, collaboration and partnership among Philippine
Fablabs, Makerspaces and the Maker Community to Promote the
Growth of a stronger Innovation Ecosystem

24. Learn. Make. Share.
Thank You.
Maria Elena C. Arbon
Provincial Director
DTI-Cebu Province
Co-Founder, FabLab Bohol