by admin | Jun 13, 2017 | DTI Updates, Tech Talk
The fabrication laboratory (FabLab), a design co-creation platform in Bohol supporting Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was cited among the top winners in an annual competition for start-up businesses using science and technology for innovative ideas.
Bohol FabLab won 200,000 yen prize money from THK, a Japanese-listed company in the Tokyo Stock Exchange who will then collaborate with FabLab for a development project involving the latter’s upcycling facility.
The award was among those given in the Tech Planter competition organized by a venture firm based in Japan Leave A Nest Co. Ltd meant for hardware makers that leverage science and technology for innovative business ideas. Same competitions are also held in countries like Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Aside from FabLab’s upcycling project, other winning teams introduced innovations such as using light pigmented ube (purple yam) for commercial use, a mind-based alert system for paralysed patients, and a vending machine for over-the-counter medicines or first aid.
“Winning the competition gives Bohol Fablab and its beneficiaries the opportunity to partner with other companies and scale up its operations,” said Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) Shiro Takaki who mentored and coordinated the Bohol FabLab participation in the competition.
The contest saw the potential of Bohol FabLab’s heat press machine, an upcycling equipment developed by Takaki to form new products from waste materials like plastic.
Global luxury brand Louis Vuitton already expressed interest to source materials for the interior designs of their boutique from the FabLab.
Established in 2014, the Bohol FabLab began as a development cooperation initiative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) JOCV Program, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bohol, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Bohol Island State University (BISU).
About 135 manufacturers in Bohol initially became part of FabLab who benefited from the platform by enabling them to make product prototypes faster, create scale models, illustrate graphic designs, combine local materials, and even mass produce products.
“The award gives FabLab Bohol opportunity to use technology in helping the community and environment through our plastic upcycling project,” said Alfred Vicere, staff of Bohol FabLab.
FabLab technical manager and BISU instructor Jerome Manatad added that ‘the prize will give chance to also commercialize the heat press to benefit more MSMEs and communities.’
Already, a women’s group in Barangay Cogon, Bohol are using the heat press machine to create souvenir items from recycled plastic, a livelihood project supported by another JOCV.
FabLab is a concept that began in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to help grassroots communities translate their design ideas into physical forms with help of computers. The concept was such a success that it already has a global network including USA, Kenya, and Afghanistan.
The Bohol FabLab encouraged the Philippine government through DTI to set up more of its kind in other parts of the country as part of MSME development.
(From left to right) Shohei Maekawa, President of Leave a Nest UK; Kihoko Tokue, President of Leave a Nest Singapore; Yukihiro Maru, Founder and CEO Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.; Jerome Manatad, Fablab Bohol Technical Manager; Shiro Takaki, JICA volunteer; Makiko Deguchi, JICA volunteer; and Katrina Rausa Chan, Director QBO Innovation Hub during the awarding ceremony at the Tech Planter competition
by admin | Jun 11, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
By JUNE S. BLANCO
HOUSE Science and Technology Committee Chair Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol 2nd District) will submit to plenary shortly the bill proposing the creation of a space agency.
Aumentado emphasized that it is high time that the Philippines upgrades its technology. One such leap would be by launching satellites into space to better communicate information to the people.
The solon said the agency would be under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
He said on top of information gathering, satellites can also be a peace and order tool. He said they can best be maximized in surveillance activities as they can easily track the movements of people with suspicious activities.
Satellites can locate suspects with surgical accuracy, he said.
Aumentado expressed confidence that the bill will be approved in the plenary because it already has the backing of many of his colleagues.
Applying the satellite to the Marawi City scenario, the solon said it can trace “with pinpoint accuracy” the location of the Maute terrorists agitating a rising rebellion in Muslim Mindanao.
by admin | Jun 11, 2017 | Headlines
By JUNE S. BLANCO
THE death of Bien Unido Mayor Gisela Bendong-Boniel Wednesday, allegedly in the hands of her husband, Provincial Board Member Niño Rey Boniel, is “tragic.”
This was the reaction of Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) on learning of the fate of the young lady mayor who was a commercial pilot of a budget airline prior to throwing her hat into the political arena to replace her “graduating” husband.
The solon and the Boniels count years as friends – long before the former entered politics in 2013 as replacement candidate for his namesake father and immediate congressional predecessor Erico Boyles Aumentado.
Considering the turn of events, however, Aumentado said justice must take its course. At the same time, he assures his constituents in Bien Unido of his continued support. Below is the full text of his statement:
“I am saddened by the tragic events involving Mayor Gisela Boniel and her husband Niño Rey Boniel of Bien Unido and their families. We all have our own problems which we try to solve in a discreet and private manner. I understand that lives of politicians take so much of their time from the family. This sometimes creates misunderstanding. While I wish to understand their situation, we also have laws to obey. Let justice move. To the people of Bien Unido, I will continue to be there for you. I will even be more supportive in your quest for a better life.”
by admin | Jun 10, 2017 | Tech Talk
A Game Development workshop will commence this June 17th, lasting two days. It will be held at the Bohol Investment Promotion Center behind the Capitol Building.
The technology used to make entertainment apps and games, including the growing VR and AR genres, has become democratized over recent years. It is now possible with game engines such as Unity, Unreal and CryEngine to make professional looking games that would have been exorbitant to produce a decade ago.
The game creation software Unity will be the focus of this workshop led by developer Ben Skelton and artist Mariel Cerio.
Industry topics such as the development pipeline, types of work and demand for various genres will be covered. However the priority will be the hands on development of a mobile game. Art, game design and coding will all come into play. By the end of the two days attendees will have made a game that they can play on their android device.
Registration is limited to only 15 participants. Register online at tinyurl.com/gamedevbohol . Important note: see the requirements for own laptop with software already instThe cost is P500, lunch is included and proceeds will go towards future events of the Bohol Communications and IT Council. BIPC and Techtalks.ph are due thanks for being involved.
by admin | Jun 10, 2017 | DTI Updates, Photo Story
Manila – Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos is one of the recipients of the 13th Rotary Tourism Awards in the Tourism and Trade Events Category for her extraordinary contribution in export and tourism promotion and advancement of the tourism industry in the Philippines. The awarding ceremony was held on June 08, 2017 at the New World Hotel in Makati City.
Assistant Secretary Gaetos heads the Program Management Office of TIPG-DTI which oversees the management and operations of the Go Lokal! Stores Project.
Seated 5th from the left is Tourism awardee Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos, flanked by: seated 4th, former Tourism Secretary Mina T. Gabor, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo and People Asia Editor in Chief Joanne Rae Ramirez. Standing 2nd from the left: former Tourism Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan, Rotary President Teodoro Ocampo, Tourism Awards Chairman Robert Lim Joseph, extreme right Ivory Coast Vince Carlos and other awardees.
