Around P200 billion ($4.44 million) worth of new investments are expected to be infused in the Philippines next year under President Benigno Aquino III's public-private partnership (PPP) program.

"The Aquino administration economic managers are working double- time to be able to put together a package of at least 10 strategic PPP projects for implementation in 2011, from an initial list of 70 projects," Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad told reporters today.

Most of these, he will come from infrastructure projects which include extending further its Manila Light Rail Transit System, is a metropolitan rail system serving the Metro Manila area, the construction of an airport in Bohol province in Central Philippines, irrigation and airport projects in Mindanao in Southern Philippines, among others, Abad said. Read more...

(www.philstar.com)