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Town requires use of local clay bricks

Thursday, July 03, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre


STA. BARBARA -- Before a construction/building permit is issued for government buildings here (public schools included), the local government is strictly requiring the use of locally produced clay bricks to be included in the design.

Mayor Reynaldo Velasco said the size of the design or area where the bricks will be placed is immaterial as long as their requirement is followed.

The town will make a step further in promoting their product by launching its own "Lario Festival" in December during their town fiesta.

There are about 10 clay brick manufacturers here situated in barangays Maningding and Ventinilla.

The mayor said the industry started a long time ago, but the past administrations did not focus on its development.
"If you look at Ateneo and UP (University of the Philippines), all the bricks there came from Sta. Barbara," he said.

Most of the bricks being manufactured though are for flooring.

Velasco said they have asked the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to help them improve the product and to give them new inventions like in terms of drying the clay without relying too much on wood. Rainy season, for instance, hampers brick production.

He further said they are not too keen on having more brick producers. He said the present number is good enough - it is just a matter of helping them improve their products.

"If we are going to world market, we have to continuously produce. That's the reason why we need technical assistance from the DOST. There should also be continuous study on the source of raw materials," he remarked.

This is also their answer to the "One Town, One Product" program of the National Government.

Originally recommended was nata de coco but this was shelved, as the town is not producing coconut, which is the basic ingredient for it.

If plans push through, they will launch this year the Lario Festival highlighting their brick products.

"The festival has been conceived to highlight the many micro, medium and small enterprises in town and connect them to bigger markets here and abroad. Talks are ongoing for the Sta. Barbara small businesses to be tied up with consolidators and bigger exporters in Manila," Velasco said when he made a public report on his accomplishment on his first year in office last Tuesday.

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