Indonesian billionaire donates P41.6 million for Philippine health, social welfare

MANILA, Philippines — An Indonesian billionaire has vowed to support the Marcos administration’s health care and social welfare programs, donating one million Singapore dollars (about P41.6 million) to the Philippines, Malacañang said yesterday.

Indonesian businessman Dato’ Sri Tahir promised to help the government improve the lives of Filipinos through social work and low-cost housing during a meeting with President Marcos last Tuesday, read a statement by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“So maybe I [will] use this opportunity. I like to see, explore, we can work together in social work,” Tahir was quoted by the PCO as having told the President.

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

Tahir handed over his donation of SG$1 million to Marcos during the meeting.

The 71-year-old Indonesian tycoon, who met the Marcoses in Hawaii while they were in exile, said he was eager to see and congratulate the President after the 2022 presidential race.

Marcos talked about the government’s social welfare programs for children and the elderly and its housing initiatives.

“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,” Marcos told Tahir.

“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. That’s more or less how we are approaching a new way of doing social work,” the President added.

The Chief Executive also mentioned the administration’s goal to build one million housing units each year for the next six years and to address the country’s 6.5 million housing backlog.

“That is a very important part of our agenda. It causes so many social problems if we don’t have available housing. It’s very hard for people to be productive if they do not have their own home,” he said.

“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,” he added.

For his part, Tahir talked about his efforts to provide health care support to countries in crisis situations, his trips to Syria and Libya and his assistance to Afghanistan and Turkiye.

Tahir has donated about $40 million to the US government and has provided assistance to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “Anything regarding humanitarian [efforts], I’m interested in that,” he said.

He also told Marcos about his interest in building a hospital in the Philippines. “We are running the largest private hospital in Indonesia. So maybe, if we can invest also in hospital here,” he said.

Marcos said he would ask state agencies to help Tahir put together his proposals when he comes back to the country sometime in July or August this year.

Tahir is the founder of Indonesian conglomerate Mayapada Group, a consortium of businesses in banking, insurance, health care, retail, real estate development and media. He was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in 2019.

According to the UNCHR website, Tahir received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011 and is the first Asian to sit on the board of trustees in the University of California, Berkeley.

It described the Indonesian magnate as a “prominent businessman” and a “generous philanthropist” who is “committed to giving back to society.”

“His commitment to benefit society and people drives his generous contributions through the Tahir Foundation which has supported multiple initiatives in healthcare and education,” the UNCHR said.