DTI wants small businesses to supply Bohol tourism industry

TAGBILARAN CITY–The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 is pushing to enable more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to supply products to the Bohol tourism industry with the help of the country’s first fabrication laboratory (FabLab) based in the province.

DTI 7 director Asteria Caberte said the FabLab is an important platform to enhance the sector’s product development for Bohol’s burgeoning tourism industry and to upgrade product competitiveness in the global market.

An average of 435,000 local and foreign tourists arrive in Bohol every year. At least 3,000 MSMEs in the province which depend on tourism activities for their livelihood.

“The Bohol FabLab is a shared service facility for small enterprises to produce quality souvenir products that can be supplied to tourism facilities,” Caberte said during the “Multi-Stakeholder Briefing and Media Tour” held in Bohol yesterday.

Prototypes

“It will enable local designers, in partnership with the local MSMEs, to come up with high-value and high-quality product prototypes. The facilities can also further assist MSMEs through short run production of prototypes that can be used in market testing before full blown commercial production,” she said.

Since its launching five months ago, the FabLab has already benefitted 25 groups composed of MSMEs and organizations in prototype development and design, among other services.

The Bohol FabLab is a P9.15 million shared service facility (SSF) project funded by the DTI, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Bohol Island State University (BISU) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to support the creative industry of the province.

A FabLab allows local manufacturers to make prototypes and products such as equipment, machinery and electronic gadgets; create scale models, illustrate graphic designs and mass-produce products.

This technology-based incubator laboratory began in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to help grassroots communities translate their design ideas into physical forms with the help of technology. As of 2014, there are already 373 FabLabs in 63 countries.

The Bohol FabLab features state-of-the-art equipment including print and cut machine, 3D printer, computer-operated sewing and embroidery machine, video conferencing equipment, and test equipment depot and other small tools and equipment.

DTI Bohol Director Ma. Elena Arbon said they already pursued research and development projects for rubber silicon soap moulds for Ubay milk-based soaps and food grade silicon mould for Loboc ginger candy, among others,Caberte said the agency has beefed up its programs to support the sector to benefit from the impending Asean economic full integration in the areas of branding and promotions, design, mentorship, production and quality enhancement programs, availability of financial loans and capital equipment through SSF.

Meanwhile, the DTI is also implementing the Leveraging Industries for Supply Chain (LINCs) Program, a joint undertaking with the Department of Tourism, to promote the tourism value chains and strengthen the supply chains catering to the tourism sector.

The LINCs Program was conducted in the province where several dairy cooperatives in Ubay and nearby municipalities were given workshops that will improve the design, packaging, and formulation of their carabao milk soaps. A series of workshops were also conducted for local designers and entrepreneurs on souvenir designs and product development strategies.