Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Cruz received the donation from Wali’s representatives, Islamic Affairs Attaché Fahd al-Otaiebi and Second Secretary Abdullah al-Khalidy, at the People’s Cargo and Warehousing Co. Inc. (PAIRCARGO) in Pasay City.

However, Cruz received only the relief goods — worth $  500,000 — since the $  50,000 cash was to be sent directly to the Leyte provincial government. The 70-ton relief goods composed of 500 pyramid tents, 500 rugs, 1,000 blankets, and 2,000 cartons of foodstuff.

Cruz promised to immediately send the humanitarian aid to the Leyte regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to avoid the fate of the Saudi government’s donation for the Quezon province floods victims in the past that only expired and did not reach the beneficiaries.

"Now what is important is to have this relief assistance delivered soonest to Leyte," Cruz told the Bulletin.

The Agriculture official lauded PAIRCARGO Vice President Joseph C. Madrigal, who witnessed the handover, for waiving about R4 million in storage fee incurred by the donation while being kept at the agency’s warehouse along Ninoy Aquino Ave.

"PAIRCARGO decided to waive the P4-million storage fee for humanitarian spirit. It is a donation from the Saudi government and we just want to do our share," said Madrigal.

Ustadhz Abdulhadi Daguit, director of the Muslim World League, Manila office, said this shows that King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and his government care for all people, regardless of religion.