For years, Philippine infrastructure planners have dreamt of building an elevated highway above the traffic-clogged streets of Manila and linking the capital with the fast-growing cities and ports to the north and south.
Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, the president, last week approved not one but two toll road projects across the city and told ministers to speed up tendering so they could be finished when he steps down from office in four years. Mr Aquino joked that he hoped to ease his journey to the beach.
The road projects, together worth 48bn pesos ($1.1bn), are adding to growing optimism about the Philippines’ prospects. Analysts say the country is on the cusp of its first investment boom since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.