September 3, 2012 News: Some 30 Moro women had been undergoing a Training on Likus Making, a joint project of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), since last week.

The training is being undertaken at the Ittihadun Nis’a Foundation  - Bangsamoro Women Skills Training Center (INFO – BWSTC) in Simuay Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

INFO – BWSTC was completed in 2010 under the Grassroots Grant for Human Security Project of the Embassy of Japan in Manila purposely to provide trainings on skills development with livelihood component for Bangsamoro women.

BDA is the development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the current peace process between the MILF and the Government of the Philippines (GPH).

With a standard size of two feet high and 12 meters long with colourful beads shaped and embroidered in different designs depicting the indigenous and rich artistry of the Moros,  Likus is a popular Moro decoration commonly draped during wedding ceremonies, traditional and cultural events and celebrations.

According to the training facilitators from BDA, this training is part of the five-component training package being funded under the Community Empowerment Project (CEP) of JICA.

Participants are out of school, professional, widow and MILF women among others from the provinces of Lanao and Maguindanao.

“We expect that their skills, knowledge and intricacy on Moro decoration making, particularly Likus, will be harnessed which they can used to earn additional income for their families,” one BDA training facilitator explained.

She said that a training on dress-making was completed earlier given to different group of Moro women under this JICA CEP package, adding “however, all the participants will be gathered to attend on seminar on basic entrepreneurship.”