Philippines-based firm Ayala has announced that it is set to open its first expressway in March 2015.

The $50m Manila-Cavite Expressway is a 4km stretch to reduce traffic congestion in the region.

According to the company, it is also planning bidding for other road and transport projects in the country.

"The projects we go into are those with strategic importance to the group."

The projects include the rehabilitation of the Manila-Bicol line of the Philippine National Railways with an investment of $2bn and the $2.7bn Laguna Lakeshore Expressway, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Ayala Energy and Infrastructure Group chief executive officer Eric Francia said: "The projects we go into are those with strategic importance to the group."

With a market capitalisation of approximately $9.2bn, Ayala focuses on banking, property development and telecommunications.

Four years ago, when the Filipino Government launched a number of projects that grew into $20bn five dozen public-private projects, the company looked into moving more into public infrastructure.