STO. TOMAS–This town is not resting on its laurels.

After bagging a Guinness World Record for the longest barbecue using its white glutinous corn harvest early this year, the local government is now developing a livelihood project on corn husk handicraft under the One Town, One Product program.

Mayor Vivien Villar said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recently released P500,000 to the municipality for the training seminar for making corn plant parts into various products such as slippers, bags, cellphone bags, placemats, doormats, and other decorative items.

The municipal council has also appropriated P100,000 for DOLE’s Unlad Kabuhayan Program Laban sa Kahirapan.

The seminar will be held on December 1 to 5 with the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Cris Balila, the municipal agriculturist, said the program also contributes to environmental conservation since it will increase the awareness of the people in recycling indigenous materials.

In mid 2007, the local government unit here conducted its first cornhusk handicraft training for making artificial flowers and other floral decors. It was followed by a training on bag making.#