MANDALUYONG CITY -- Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon welcomed His Excellency Hisham Sultan Abdullah Alqahtani, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Philippines, last Thursday, August 18, 2022.

The visit aims to enhance strategic partnership and cooperation between the PRC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its embassy in the Philippines to address the needs of Marawi City and other affected areas of Mindanao. During his visit, Ambassador Alqahtani mentioned that their government looks forward to delivering assistance at the quickest time and that the Philippine Red Cross, through the leadership of Chairman Gordon, has the mechanism to help Saudi Arabia send assistance to the most vulnerable communities.

“I am proud and honored to sit with Chairman Gordon to find mechanisms to deliver assistance at the quickest time. Chairman Gordon is a great man. He is an expert in disaster management and well respected by the international community,” H.E. Alqatani said.

In the past, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia embassy, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief project, supported the PRC through donations of food baskets to meet the food needs of up to 1,000 families or 5,000 individuals affected by the armed conflict in Mindanao.

“We are grateful that H.E. Alqahtani honors us to discuss partnership possibilities with the PRC. The PRC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are one in achieving our goal to alleviate human suffering and uplift the dignity of the most vulnerable communities,” Chairman Gordon said.

“Just last month, the delegates from Saudi Red Crescent Authority also visited us as well. This just shows that the Philippine Red Cross is respected and well received by the international community, making PRC the partner of choice,” added Gordon. (Philippine Red Cross)