A major road development in the Philippines has taken a step forward following the approval from the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The work comprises of the Arterial Road Bypass Project (ARBP) phase II and the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) phase I projects in Luzon

The PHP3.2bn ($73.6m) ARBP phase II project will bypass the Pan-Philippine Highway (PPH) from Guiguinto to San Rafael, Bulacan.

The work involves construction of four bridges and drainage facilities and will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The first phase of CLLEX will stretch from the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in Tarlac city to San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, and will cost PHP15.1bn ($347.7m).

The ARBP will integrate Manila with the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan Valley, and Aurora, while CLLEX will take in the Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora and the Cagayan Valley region with Metro Manila and the rest of Northern Luzon.

Both of the projects will be carried out between 2012 and 2017.