Research and Development

in Bohol:
The case of PRP4IWI
Jan Ray C. Rulida
Hardware Engineer – PRP4IWI
 PRP4IWI
(Plastic Recycling Project
for Improving Women’s
Income)
- Provide women access to
technology and machines for
recycling/upcycling plastic bags
- Provide opportunity for women
to improve their income through
the use of said technology and
machines
The PRP4IWI set out to
develop the Heat Press
Machines and Laser
Cutter.
 Why did PRP4IWI have
to develop the machines
independently?
FabLabs have a limited
number of equipment
It’s not possible to just
buy a lot of expensive
machines!
 Maintenance is a
struggle.
If a local engineer makes the
machine, sells it with a local
engineer, and the local engineer
maintains it, then the problem is
solved!
 Let’s just make the
machines!
And make everything
locally!
Can it really be done in
Bohol?
Let’s take a look at how
PRP4IWI did it.
 The things we did:
• Deciding the machine
specifications
• Basic design and simulation
• Prototype logistics
• Prototype development
• PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
• Final specifications
• Fabrication
• Documentation (IMPORTANT!)
(ALL R+D STUFF!)
Deciding machine specs
Basic design + simulation
Fabrication
Laser Cutter Basic design +
simulation
Basic design + simulation
CHALLENGES &
DIFFICULTIES
and how we tried
to overcome them
 Most machine shops
were not well equipped to
meet the fabrication
needs.
One machine shop owner even
told us that our design could not
possibly work.
 We cannot be given
priority by machine shops
for fabrication.
This causes delays in fabrication.
 Local hardware
suppliers and
establishments did not
carry the parts we
needed.
We had to buy some of the
components we needed online
(aliexpress, Lazada, etc.)
 Lead time from ordering
online to receiving takes
2 days at least and up to
~5 weeks at most.
Proper scheduling allows other
tasks to be completed at the
meantime.
 Incomplete technical
knowledge.
This is no longer an excuse to not move
forward. We turned to YouTube, Udemy,
Coursera, Sribd, etc., and consulted Live
Human Experts. This is the leverage of
the current generation.
 Our first few prototypes
didn’t work. 
So repeat the design process…
But we eventually made
it work! 
One of the
women
operating
the heat
press
machine
Recycled Plastic Sheets @
Manila Mini Maker Faire
Research and Development
can be done in Bohol!