An Indonesian businessman has donated close to P42 million to the Philippines and committed to further help the country in building low-cost housing for Filipinos.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. meets Indonesian businessman Dato’ Sri Tahir in Malacañang on May 30, 2023. (RTVM Screenshot)

Dato’ Sri Tahir handed over SGD1 million (P41.6 million) to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during their meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, May 30.

As someone who has met the Marcos family when they were in exile in Hawaii, Tahir told Marcos that he was eager to see and congratulate him after winning the elections last year.

“So maybe I use this opportunity. I like to see, explore, we can work together in social work,” Tahir said.

“We have been working in the region. So, I hope that, with your permission, with your support, let me arrange to explore,” he added.

The President briefed Tahir on the government social welfare programs for children, the elderly, and initiative for housing.

“We have a program that we are going to start for the street children. Unfortunately, we still have people who are homeless. So, we are trying to look after them,” said the President, adding the government program for senior citizens to help them financially and medically.

“So, this is how we view social work in the Philippines. As much as possible, we would like people not to become dependent on the government. And Filipinos, I think, have that attitude. So, that’s a good situation. So, that’s more or less how we are approaching a new way of doing social work,” he further said.

Marcos told Tahir that the government is targeting one million house units each year for the next six years, noting the country’s backlog of 6.5 million in terms of housing units for socialized and local housing.

He stressed that it is "a very important part of our agenda" as it causes many social problems if the housing backlog will not be addressed.

"It’s very hard for people to be productive if they do not have their own home. Even if they are just paying for it, it’s different from being informal settlers, squatters. That’s why it’s a big priority. So, housing is moving well," Marcos said.

Tahir, for his part, said he is also active in providing healthcare support to countries in crisis situations and has donated about $40 million to the US government, and assisted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Anything regarding humanitarian, I’m interested in that,” Tahir said, saying he went to Syria and Libya, and also extended support to Afghanistan and Turkey.

The Indonesian businessman also expressed his intention to build a hospital in the country.

"We are running the largest private hospital in Indonesia. So maybe if we can invest also in hospital here," he said.

The President said he will ask the concerned government agencies to help him put together his proposals when he comes back to the country sometime in July or August.

Tahir founded the Mayapada Group, an Indonesian conglomerate, with businesses in the financial, healthcare, hotel and real estate, specialty retail, media and mining industries. In 2019, Tahir was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.