CEBU CITY – On May 8, 2025, the Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), officially launched the Artificial Intelligence Fabrication Laboratory (AI FabLab), the first of its kind in Central Visayas under the DTI-Shared Service Facility (SSF) Program. This landmark initiative integrates AI with digital fabrication, advancing regional innovation and inclusive development.

Officials from CIT-U and DTI Region 7 during the ceremonial launch of the AI FabLab in Cebu, showcasing the partnership for the region’s first AI-integrated fabrication laboratory under the DTI-SSF Program.

The CIT-U AI FabLab is the eighth fabrication laboratory in Cebu and the first to integrate artificial intelligence into its digital prototyping services. Following the establishment of the TESDA FabLab, this advanced facility empowers students, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs with access to cutting-edge tools, including a desktop CNC milling machine, fiber laser metal engraver and cutter, 3D printer, UV printer, CO2 laser cutter, and a robotic arm with AI and IoT capabilities.

Ms. Esperanza T. L. Melgar, Acting Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 7, highlighted the CIT-U AI FabLab as a pioneering SSF initiative with a private, non-sectarian academic institution under the revised SSF guidelines. She emphasized the lab’s focus on AI as a strategic move towards emerging technologies, reaffirming DTI’s commitment to digital innovation and local capability building.

Group of individuals inside the CIT-U AI FabLab, surrounded by digital fabrication equipment including a laptop displaying data and a laser cutter, during the facility’s launch event.

The Shared Service Facilities (SSF) Program, a flagship initiative of the DTI, aims to boost the productivity and competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through improved access to technology and innovation. It offers machinery, tools, and technical expertise to enhance product quality, increase market reach, and job creation.

The establishment of the CIT-U AI FabLab was made possible through a government investment amounting to PhP4,979,000.00 under the DTI-SSF Program. This funding covered the acquisition of advanced digital fabrication equipment and the initial setup needed to make the facility operational and accessible to MSMEs, students, and innovators.

CIT-U President Engr. Bernard Nicolas Villamor expressed deep appreciation to DTI for enabling the university’s long-standing aspiration to establish a fabrication laboratory. He noted that CIT-U had previously been ineligible under earlier SSF guidelines, which excluded private, non-sectarian schools. The revised policy allowed CIT-U to quickly formalize its partnership with DTI, resulting in the creation of an AI-powered FabLab focused on research, innovation, and capacity building.

The FabLab offers services such as AI training, design consultation, laser cutting, CNC engraving, T-shirt printing, large-format and 3D printing. It also provides AI-powered solutions to support education, enhance business operations, and accelerate industry innovation. By addressing the needs of MSMEs, students, and startups, the facility serves as a creative hub for building prototypes and refining product ideas.

Dr. Chris Jordan Aliac, CIT-U Makerspace Manager, emphasized the lab’s role in addressing local demand for advanced prototyping services. “With these technologies now available in Cebu, clients no longer need to go elsewhere. The AI FabLab empowers local talent and enterprises to stay competitive in a fast-changing market,” he noted.

Group photo during the CIT-U AI FabLab launch, featuring seated individuals holding documents and standing participants behind them in an industrial-style room with concrete walls and hanging lights.

The ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Usufruct Agreement was led by Mr. John Gregory Escario (CIT-U Vice President for Administration), Dr. Chris Jordan Aliac (CIT-U Makerspace Manager), Ms. Esperanza T. L. Melgar (DTI Region 7 Acting Regional Director), and Ms. Marivic V. Aguilar (DTI Cebu Provincial Office, OIC Provincial Director). This initiative reflects the shared vision of DTI Region 7 and CIT-U to foster inclusive innovation and equitable access to emerging technologies. The AI FabLab stands as a symbol of regional progress—bridging industry, academia, and government to build a future-ready innovation ecosystem. (DTI Cebu) ♦

Date of Release: 15 May 2025

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