The government of the Philippines has unveiled a plan to invest PHP141.8bn ($3.2bn) in infrastructure projects, which are expected to begin later this month.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has been allocated a large proportion of the funds, receiving PHP91.57bn ($2bn) to carry out road improvement across the country.

DPWH will use the money for maintenance, upgrading and addressing critical bottlenecks of roads, which included construction and upgrades of national bridges; in addition to major flood control projects and payments of right of way.

The projects include national roads and bridges; airports, seaports and lighthouses; as well as classrooms and other education facilities; potable water supply systems, irrigation and post-harvest facilities.

Philippines Secretary of Budget and Management Florencio B Abad said: "The implementing departments and agencies will then be able to bid these out. In fact, many of these projects have already been bidded-out short of award."

About 2,187 infrastructure projects have been identified to be funded through the 2012 budget, out of which 2,025 projects have so far been awarded to bidders, with those remaining to be awarded during the first quarter of 2012.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has also been earmarked for PHP356.9m ($8m) to build bridges and roads in the region.

The other projects planned to be implemented this year include the upgrade of the Metro Manila road, repair of the Villamor Bridge and the widening of Pasong Tamo, Lawton Avenue, and Juliano Avenue Junction.

The Villamor Bridge work will improve traffic flow in the nearby intersections along the the South Luzon Expressway, SLEX East and West Service Roads, Sales St, in addition to the Pasong Tamo Extension.