ISAT-U’s FabLab innovation on pandemic response wins 1st Place

The Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) bagged the COVID-19 Response Innovations Category at the Fabsiklaban Competition during the FabLab Festival (FabFest) 4 virtually hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VII on January 7 to 9, 2021.

ISAT-Us entry was also conferred the People’s Choice Award for garnering the most number of text votes during the duration of the competition. A total of 13 entries were submitted for the contest from the different regions nationwide.

With a theme, “Fabricating the New Normal,” the FabFest is a three-day gathering of businessmen, makers, and creators all over the Philippines. It highlights the various FabLab established in the country.

On its fourth year to amplify the existing individual efforts of the Fablab, a video contest for FabLab’s Fabsiklaban Competition was launched. Fablabs are geared towards providing an avenue for ideation and innovation to all producers in the community.

It was coupled with workshops, exhibitions and demos, including presentations to engage stakeholders with diverse experiences and expertise to share valuable inputs in coming up with solutions and initiatives to deliver high impact interventions to MSMEs and other clients.

However, due to the compliance imposed on health and safety protocols by the government, and the restrictions imposed in some areas, the host region proposed for a video contest to persuade those affected by the restrictions to still participate in the event.

ISAT-U President Dr. Raul F. Muyong said that the FabLab produced personal property equipment and were donated to the different hospitals, local government units, national government agencies and frontliners.

It fabricated the assembly of a mobile specimen collection booth in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology. Also, the state university has produced face shields, and prototyping of ventilators and ultraviolet light sanitizers.

DTI VI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon said, “A number of DTI SSFs all around the region were tapped to produce face masks and face shields and these were distributed to different hospitals and government offices primarily for safety and protection but the greatest breakthrough was the development of new and innovative products at the DTI ISAT-U FabLab here in Iloilo City. Innovation and product development using the new technology will continue to be the objective of our SSFs and Fablabs. This is our active response to COVID-19.”

The Department of Trade and Industry, in its thrust to provide a more enabling business environment for micro, small and medium enterprises, has pioneered the establishment of FabLab all throughout the country, under its shared service facilities program.