The province of Sarawak in Malaysia donated $30,000 to the Cebu provincial government as financial aid to survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda in northern Cebu.
Datuk Haji Talib Bin Zulpilip, assistant tourism minister for Sarawak, handed over the check to Gov. Hilario Davide III at the provincial capitol yesterday. “We are the same people. It’s just a small token from the people of Sarawak to the people of Cebu,” the minister told reporters.
The donation was earlier announced during a press conference of the 14th East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF) in Malaysia, which Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale attended from Sept. 4 to 6.
Zulpilip said they decided to help after seeing Magpale’s presentation of tourist destinations in Cebu that were affected by the typhoon and the province’s efforts to rehabilitate these areas.
Magpale said Sarawak officials gave Cebu province discretion on how to use the funds so long as it goes to rehabilitation efforts.
Davide said he will discuss how the funds will be used with the Provincial Board.