Vision
Comfac will lead an Open Source Hardware Manufacturing Initiative to develop and localize critical technology infrastructure. Instead of competing directly with large multinational manufacturers like TP-Link or Cisco, Comfac will invest in R&D to create the knowledge base and open-source frameworks that allow 100+ small workshops across the Philippines to produce hardware collaboratively. Our goal is to make open hardware viable, replicable, and locally sustainable.
By decentralizing manufacturing and focusing on design transparency, open documentation, and toolchain accessibility (using FreeCAD, KiCAD, LinuxCNC, etc.), Comfac will help catalyze an ecosystem of MSMEs capable of producing the nation’s networking and computing equipment.
Core Concept: Economy of Knowledge, Not Scale
| Concept | Large Manufacturer | Open Source Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| Production Volume | Millions per year | Thousands per year across 100 workshops |
| Capital Efficiency | Economies of Scale (centralized) | Distributed Manufacturing (shared tooling) |
| Technology Access | Proprietary designs | Open Source Schematics & BOMs |
| Margins | Thin, high turnover | Localized, knowledge-based profitability |
| Innovation | Slow, centralized | Fast, iterative, community-driven |
Comfac’s role: R&D → Documentation → Pilot → Knowledge Transfer → Local Manufacturing Enablement.
Example: The Open Source Switch
A reference commercial product, such as the TP-Link TL-SG3428 JetStream 24-Port Gigabit L2 Managed Switch with 4 SFP Slots, retails at around ₱10,000. A comparable model, the D-Link DGS-1210-28 Smart Switch (24-Port Gigabit + 4-Port SFP), retails for about ₱13,000 (source).
A locally produced open-source equivalent would initially cost ₱15,000 per unit, roughly 1.5× more expensive. To achieve competitiveness, tariff adjustments and local manufacturing incentives would be necessary. However, this premium would fund Filipino labor, R&D, and component sourcing, ensuring domestic capability and long-term resilience.
Key Components:
- Housing: Locally fabricated aluminum or 3D-printed polymer enclosure.
- Network Interface Cards: Off-the-shelf Realtek or Marvell DSA-compatible chipsets.
- SFP Modules: Open standard compatible (1G/2.5G/10G options).
- SBC (ARM or RISC-V): Controls firmware (OpenWRT).
- Power Supply: Open-sourced SMPS design or local AC/DC converter.
- Heat Management: Passive or active (heat sinks, fans, alarms).
- Alert Systems: LED status, audible/visual fault indicators.
Target: A 4× cost multiple versus mass-produced TP-Link units, but 100% locally made, serviceable, and documented for replication.
Strategic R&D Allocation (10M PHP/year)
| Project | Budget (PHP) | Staff | Materials & Equipment | Objective | Related Projects / Repos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Source Switch | 2M | 2 | 1M | Develop open-hardware switch with OpenWRT + Marvell/Realtek NIC | OpenWRT, KiCAD |
| Open Source Laptop | 3M | 3 | 1.5M | Create modular, serviceable ARM/RISC-V laptop design | Coreboot, Byrantech Laptop |
| Self-Driving Cargo Cart | 3M | 3 | 1.5M | Build an autonomous logistics cart for internal plant operations | ROS2, ArduPilot |
| Open Source CNC / Pick-and-Place Machine | 5M | 3–5 | 2M | Develop LinuxCNC-based desktop fabrication tools, starting with PnP for Switch/Laptop assembly | LinuxCNC, OpenPnP |
Total Annual Investment: 10M PHP R&D Budget
Strategic Objective
Comfac will not attempt to scale like a megacorporation. Instead, it will:
- Develop and Document critical open-source designs for networking, computing, and automation hardware.
- Pilot Local Manufacturing through internal R&D and partner MSMEs.
- Train and Enable Filipino workshops, universities, and cooperatives to replicate and customize designs.
- Establish Open Standards for interoperability, repairability, and long-term sustainability.
This will allow the Philippines to:
- Build local self-sufficiency in critical tech manufacturing.
- Retain value locally rather than through import-heavy supply chains.
- Create thousands of MSMEs focused on tech manufacturing.
- Encourage a knowledge-based economy rather than a consumption-based one.
Policy and Advocacy
Tariff and Security Framework for Data Sovereignty
To ensure data sovereignty and the security of national network systems, a temporary 20% tariff on imported network equipment should be implemented for at least five years. The revenue from this tariff will directly fund an R&D initiative under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to support open-source hardware research and local production.
Rather than centralizing the funding in a single company, the program will be structured so that DOST contracts multiple Filipino companies—including but not limited to Comfac—to develop and publish open-source hardware designs. These designs will form a national knowledge base of locally manufacturable technologies, allowing the Philippines to continuously upgrade its technological base and manufacturing capabilities.
Purpose of the Tariff:
- Strengthen national data sovereignty through local control of networking hardware.
- Protect local manufacturers during early development phases.
- Create a stable funding mechanism for open-source hardware R&D.
- Encourage competition among Filipino tech firms to innovate openly.
Implementation Mechanism:
- Apply a 20% tariff on imported network equipment for 5 years.
- Allocate proceeds to a DOST-administered Open Hardware Fund.
- Issue annual competitive R&D grants for open-source hardware projects (network, computing, automation).
- Prioritize public documentation, licensing, and reproducibility of funded designs.
Policy and Advocacy (continued)
The success of this ecosystem requires:
- Government policies supporting open hardware manufacturing and tariff reduction for components.
- Procurement incentives for open-source compliant technologies.
- Academic integration of hardware R&D (engineering capstones, technical training).
Ultimately, the goal is not for Comfac alone to lead, but to build a national manufacturing ecosystem. The initiative must empower hundreds of MSMEs, cooperatives, and academic labs to produce, adapt, and improve open-source technologies. Comfac’s unique value lies in collaboration — creating and sharing the knowledge base so that multiple Filipino enterprises can innovate, sell, and contribute back to the open hardware community.
This shared R&D model ensures that the Philippines develops genuine technological independence by making open collaboration the foundation of national manufacturing capability.
Long-term Vision (2030–2040)
By 2035, Comfac aims to establish:
- 100+ certified open hardware workshops nationwide.
- Locally produced switches, laptops, and CNCs used in schools, offices, and factories.
- A Filipino-led open-source hardware ecosystem that serves as a regional model for ASEAN.
To ensure resilience against global supply chain disruptions—whether from China, the U.S., Taiwan, or Japan—the Philippines must build the capability to assemble and manufacture critical technology locally, even at higher cost. The ability to spend more in order to sustain local manufacturing, employment, and strategic autonomy is a national priority. This investment ensures that the country remains technologically independent and capable of maintaining operations under international uncertainty.
Moreover, developing local manufacturing capabilities will unlock higher levels of technological sophistication—extending beyond networking hardware to electric vehicles, motors, filtration systems, and waste-to-energy or incinerator plants. Building this capacity ensures that the same ecosystem of engineers, MSMEs, and open-source R&D programs can pivot to more advanced industrial technologies essential for national resilience and sustainability.
We will never outscale megacorporations. But we will out-innovate them — by making technology that everyone can build, repair, and improve.
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