About the First FABLAB in the Philippines

JEROME MANATAD
Sep 29·3 min read

Fablab Bohol Philippines is the first Fab Lab ( Fabrication Laboratory) in the Philippines. It is a
consortium brand for local empowerment.

It was established in May 2, 2014 and it is a collaboration program between four government
agencies- Bohol Island State University, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of
Science and Technology and Japan International Cooperating Agency.

Fablab Bohol Philippines is managed by Bohol Island State University. It is located inside Bohol
Island State University — Main Campus, Tagbilaran City Bohol Philippines.

Fablab Bohol has various machines such as: laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC Milling Machines,
Print and Cut Machine, Vinyl Cutter , Vacuum Forming Machine, Digital Embroidery Machine and
other electronic devices.

Fablab Bohol conduct various Digital Fabrication Workshop, Research and Development for
MSMEs (Micro Small Medium Enterprises)and Students, Fablab Class and other Digital Designing
Workshops.

FabLab — digital fabrication laboratories — were set up to inspire people and entrepreneurs to
turn their ideas into new products and prototypes by giving them access to a range of advanced
digital manufacturing technology.

Fab Lab Charter

Mission:

FabLab is a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access for individuals to
tools for digital fabrication.

Access:

You can use the FabLab to make almost anything (that doesn’t hurt anyone); you must learn to do
it yourself, and you must share use of the lab with others.
Education:

Training in the FabLab is based on doing projects and learning from your peers; you’re expected
to contribute to documentation and instruction.

Responsibility:

You are responsible for:

Safety: Knowing how to work without hurting people or machines.

Cleaning up: Leaving the lab cleaner than you found it.

Operations: Assisting with maintaining, repairing, and reporting on tools, supplies, and incidents.

Secrecy:

Designs and processes developed in a FabLab must remain available for individual use although
intellectual property can be protected however you choose

Business:

Commercial activities can be incubated in the FabLab but they must not conflict with open access,
they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors,
labs, and networks that contribute to their success.

Design -Create - Inspire