DOST Solidifies the Future of Additive Manufacturing in the Philippines
By Kai H. Negado
October 25, 2023
“We had a vision of how we can augment the ability to design and manufacture with digital technology,” said Dr. Rigoberto C. Advincula during his keynote message on what he envisions the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen) can offer to the advancement of innovation in the country, even before its establishment.
The Department of Science and Technology-Metals Industry Research and Development Center’s (DOST-MIRDC) AMCen held an event that fosters innovation through collaboration. Dubbed AMCen CONNECT3DMINDS PartnerShape Day, guest speakers and officials from various partner organizations highlighted AMCen’s activities geared toward realizing the country’s Ambisyon Natin 2040 agenda of a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay.
In pursuit of this goal, AMCen has launched the Central Hub for Advanced Manufacturing R&D in the Philippines (CHAMP) Program. This program aims to support advancements in five key areas as identified in the Advanced Manufacturing (AM) Roadmap: manufacturing, medical, construction, consumer goods, and education.
While the adoption of AM in these sectors is crucial, it is equally essential for AMCen to establish partnerships with experts in these fields, experts who make up the AMCen Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is headed by DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, Dr. Leah J. Buendia. As far as expertise is concerned, the AMCen Steering Committee members will provide effective oversight, coordination, and help shape the policies and guidelines that will underpin future AMCen projects under the CHAMP Program.
The Steering Committee members were presented during the PartnerShape Day. Each priority sector is represented by a Steering Committee member. The following are the representatives from the five priority sectors for AM intervention:
- Manufacturing Sector - Mr. Jonathan F. Co, Business Unit, General Manager, Manly Plastics, Inc.
- Medical Sector - Dr. Rafael C. Bundoc, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, Philippine General Hospital
- Construction Sector - Dr. John Ryan C. Dizon, Director, DR3AM Center, Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU)
- Consumer Goods Sector - Dr. Marissa Paglicawan, Scientist I, DOST-Industrial Technology Development Insitute (DOST-ITDI)
Education Sector - Dr. Sheryl Lyn C. Monterola, Director, University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED)
Steering committee members pose for a photo during the PartnerShape Day. From left to right: Engr. Robert O. Dizon, Executive Director of DOST-MIRDC; Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, Director of DOST-ITDI; Dr. Rigoberto C. Advincula, AMCen consultant; and Engr. Fred P. Liza, Chief, Materials and Process Research Division, DOST-MIRDC and AMCen project head.
In further solidifying AMCen’s commitment to develop a stronger AM in the country, technical working groups (TWG) composed of members from organizations, representatives of the academe, government, and industry partners were also presented. Various agreements were signed by the TWG members, committing to work toward the development of AM for the education sector, manufacturing sector, and research and development.
Representatives from MakerLab Electronics, UP-NISMED, and Puzzlebox3D sign the Memorandum of Agreement on the Development of National AM Curriculum for SHS STEM, along with DOST-MIRDC Exec. Dir. Robert O. Dizon, and Engr. Fred P. Liza as witness.
The whole-day affair was a way for AMCen to actively encourage the industry, academia, and the public sector to embrace and adopt AM. AMCen, being a technology hub and a center of excellence for AM that promotes creativity and encourages innovation to flourish, advocates the technological transformation and advancement of the country through the celebration of the CONNECT3D Minds PartnerShape Day.
With the expanding network of partnerships that AMCen is forming, it is now conceivable to envision a Philippines where businesses revolutionize manufacturing, and the education sector prepares industry-ready leaders and professionals in the AM field.
Attendees from the government, industry, and academe during the PartnerShape Day on October 10, 2023 at the Acacia Hotel, Manila.
