There has been an outpouring of gratitude from Filipinos for the $11 million in aid received from Saudi Arabia.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques recently pledged $10 million and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation $1 million.

Mohammad Akil Alangca Dardagan, a leading Filipino, welcomed the aid and said Prince Alwaleed has helped the Philippines and other countries regularly over the years.

Maria Amor, founder and president of “We care for humanity,” sent a letter to Prince Alwaleed to thank him. “As a Filipino, I can attest that you’ve given hope to millions of needy people. From the bottom of my heart, please accept my deepest gratitude to your country, Saudi Arabia and to your father, Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz, for the generosity you bestowed on our people, the victims of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda,” she said.

Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago was also grateful. “We are very thankful to the foundation and of course its chair Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Al-Saud.”

On the embassy’s website, he said the donations would assist to rehabilitate affected areas. “The foundation’s humanitarian assistance is yet another affirmation of the people of Saudi Arabia’s generosity and fraternity with the Filipino people.”

The foundation is currently transferring part of the funds to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, one of the lead government agencies tasked with relief and rehabilitation efforts in the typhoon-ravaged areas of central Philippines.

Part of the donation will also go to the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Food Program to support victims of the tragedy in all affected areas.

In 2009, the Alwaleed Foundation supported the Philippines through a donation for medical aid for victims of Typhoon Ketsana.





The foundation also supported the Commission on Higher Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for capacity building, research and scholarships.

Earlier, Abdullah Al-Hassan, the Saudi ambassador to the Philippines, said the donations reflect the ties the Kingdom has with the Filipino people.

A Saudi columnist recently wrote in his weekly column that Filipino workers have proved their mettle. “Filipinos have set high work standards in almost every country they’ve gone to.”