From here on, Independence Day may signify a deeper meaning for CTU Tuburan as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Nanette C. Arbon and Regional Director Asteria Caberte turned over the Digital Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) and the Food Innovation Center on June 12.
The Shared Service Facilities (SSFs), that seek to level the playing field among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), have various equipment to be used among entrepreneurs, startups and communities to improve, develop and produce products with efficiency and productivity. While DTI retains ownership of the facilities, the cooperator, CTU Tuburan, will certainly benefit from this.
For rapid prototyping of products or parts to be used by industries, the Fablab includes small and large CNC milling machine, 3D printer and scanner, and a digital 6-color embroidery machine among others. Once operational, Siegfried Mendoza, Engr. Richard Lonzaga and Engr. Servando Uy III will manage it with the campus’ Dean of Instruction and FabLab Director Ma. Carla Abaquita.
The Food Innovation Center, on the one hand, is expected to improve food processing technology through Ma. Donna Buates and Letuz Sudaria.
In his speech, University President Rosein A. Ancheta Jr. stressed on the importance of the facilities toward equipping CTU Tuburan students with necessary skills for future employment. He also commended the support of government agencies that help the university attain its vision.
Regional Director Caberte on her part was not purely convinced at the beginning that the FabLab would materialize in the campus, given the distance from the city. But having seen the commitment of CTU administration and municipality personnel, she guaranteed more collaborations to take place.
When it comes to synergy, Mayor Democrito Diamante echoed in his talk the success of Tuburan’s coffee industry emerging from such a convergence of institutions, where CTU has played a major role.
DTI and CTU Tuburan are now conducting training sessions on the operation and maintenance of the facilities, which will be opened to the public come July. ICPA Tuburan/ Siegfried D. Mendoza