March 24, 2021 – To showcase MATDEV Laboratory’s current and future activities on additive manufacturing (AM). The Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) converge the industry, academe, government, and non-profit organizations in a stakeholders’ forum to be held on March 25, 2021, 8:30 in the morning until 12:00 noon Philippines Standard Time via the virtual platform Zoom Meeting.

“AM is where we might be soon as the rest of the world catches up on its use, which can edge out the competitiveness of our local businesses. Right now, most of our manufacturing firms are into subtractive manufacturing.” shared by Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, Director ITDI.

AM is the technique being used by the MATDEV Laboratory to produce models and prototypes directly from three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) without using any tools or fixtures. Funded by the DOST Grants-In-Aid Program, MATDEV Laboratory is a project under the Advanced Additive Manufacturing R&D Program.

The MATDEV Laboratory undertakes research and development on materials for use in additive manufactured products to reduce the cost of raw materials with local resources. Launched last December 22, 2020.

Moreover since 80’s the AM has been in use in Japan. Invented by Hideo Kodama of the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute with two AM photopolymer rapid prototyping systems in 1981. Now, the AM process of making a product by adding successive layers of material is now often referred to as 3D printing.

The difference between the traditional production methods or subtractive manufacturing that AM requires less hard tooling and assembly and offers bespoke manufacturing at easier time to market.

AM ensures continual availability of spare parts, which is particularly useful in asset-heavy industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical. In other countries, the use of AM is widespread in machineries like turbines, handling and robotics, lifestyle and sports like jewelry and biking, and custom parts of classic cars.

DOST-ITDI envision that in the near future. AM can completely change the landscape from products are designed and built, as well as distributed, sold, and serviced.

Subtractive manufacturing involves cutting away from a solid block of material. A milling machine cutting/hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic is an example of subtractive manufacturing.

Subsequently , most of AM’s current users around the globe think that, “As it currently stands, it is unlikely that additive manufacturing will replace subtractive manufacturing any time soon. This is because both sets of processes have a very contrasting set of pros and cons, meaning that each can play to the strengths of the other’s weaknesses.”

“AM has been steadily growing a following, primarily because of its big market, which researchandmarkets.comreported at $12 billion in 2020.” cited by Director Briones.

Currently, analysts at Global Market Insights, Inc. believe that the overall economic impact created by AM could reach $100 billion to $250 billion by 2025, “… if adoption across industries worldwide continues at today’s rate.”

This huge potential is seen to come from the aerospace and defense, automotive, medical, and consumer goods industries manufacture locally. Reference from AM Guevarra DOST-ITDI S&T Media Service Service

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DOST PHIVOLCS launched Spectral  Acceleration Maps in the country  

“We firmly hope that this latest atlas will be utilized by all stakeholders for decision-making in building safer structures and facilities, and for strengthening the resiliency of our communities,” shared  DOST Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS Officer-in-Charge Renato U. Solidum. 

In  a virtual zoom meeting last March 23, 2021 in support of the National Government’s Build! Build! Build! Program, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST- PHIVOLCS) officially launches the Spectral Acceleration Maps of the Philippines (SAM PH) Atlas. 

Part of the launched was the SAM PH Atlas’ turn-over ceremony to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and to the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP). The Atlas contains very detailed maps of the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions I, II, III, IV-A, VI-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The SAM PH Atlas can serve as a reference various stakeholders from engineers, building designers, and urban planners in the design of essential and critical structures and facilities such as hospitals, dams, power plants, roads, bridges, and railway systems to withstand intensity VIII earthquakes. It can also be used for the assessment and retrofitting of existing structures to conform to the building standards.

Among with the Earthquake Model Atlases for the Philippines, Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao published from 2018 to 2019, the SAM PH Atlas can provide science-based information for urban development, risk assessment, and site-specific insurance rates and coverages.

Aside from the national and regional scale spectral acceleration maps, the Atlas contains maps of historical earthquakes from 1619 to 2015, and active faults and trenches in the country.

These spectral acceleration maps may be adopted in the 8th Edition of the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) planned for release in 2022. A digital copy of the atlas will be made downloadable for free on the DOST-PHIVOLCS website (www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph). For more information please contact:
Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr.Undersecretary, DOSTand Officer-in-Charge, PHIVOLCS(632) 8926-2611  Reference from Enrico Belga Jr. of DOST – Office of the Secretary

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Balik Scientist Dr Deo Florence L Onda 1st Filipino in Emden Deep 

Overwhelming congratulations to Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda, the first Filipino to descend to Emden Deep, the third deepest spot on earth yelling from the another milestone in Science community. Emden Deep, located in the Philippine trench, is approximately 10,400 m or 34,100 ft deep. 

Dr. Onda is a microbial oceanographer of the UP Marine Science Institute (MSI), of the University of the Philippines. Dr. Onda was invited by the organization Caladan Oceanic to join the Emden Deep Expedition targeted on March 22 to 28, 2021. 

 Long-term Balik Scientist Dr. Onda of the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD). Through the DOST-Balik Scientist Program (BSP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Filipino scientists, technologists, and experts are encouraged to return to the country and share their expertise in order to promote scientific, agro-industrial, and economic development, including the development of our human capital in science, technology and innovation. 

Accompanied by Mr. Victor Vescovo, Dr. Onda successfully returned to the ocean’s surface safe and sound aboard the DSSV Pressure Drop, the only marine vessel in the world capable of launching the deep-sea submersible DSV Limiting Factor that can carry humans and repeatedly dive to the deepest parts in the world’s oceans. Mr. Vescovo is the current record holder of the deepest manned descent in the Marianas Trench in 2019.

Mr. Vescovo is also the main sponsor of Caladan Oceanic, which is a private organization that has been setting records for deepest manned descents in the world’s deepest trenches, with the most recent one in the Marianas in 2019. 

Base on UP MSI, deep sea expeditions like this one are equivalent to the first early flights into outer space, thus it would be a major record-setting scientific and historic achievement.

To date, most of these records are held by foreign scientists or explorers. The Philippine Trench is a unique feature found within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, and it is only appropriate that a Filipino scientist be one of the first to hold this record in the Emden Deep. 

Part of the goal is to wave the Philippine Flag in the Emden Deep during its record-setting voyage, highlighting that it is an integral part of our nation’s heritage. Dr. Onda, as the sole Filipino researcher representing the country, will also be given a unique opportunity to be exposed to state-of-the-art vessels capable of deep-sea activities, which can enrich our experiences and knowledge as the Philippines builds its own

National Academic Research Fleet (NARFleet), an ongoing national project funded by the Philippine Government. This endeavor can spark interest and passion for many other young Filipinos who would want to make a career in the sciences and bring more attention to the protection, preservation, and conservation of the Philippine marine environment. 
Message and reference from Facebook of Science Chief Fortunato de la Peña “We at the DOST are glad to hear this achievement. Mabuhay ang mga Siyentipikong Pilipino!” 

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