THE PHILIPPINES has agreed to carry out with Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia?known as a group as BIMP?12 priority infrastructure projects worth about $1 billion over the next two years.

These projects, mainly related to transport systems and cross-border interconnection of power facilities, will be done under the BIMP East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)?a cooperation program within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In a joint statement, leaders of the four countries who met in Thailand last week said these projects were expected to help boost trade, investment and tourism in the subregion.

Initiatives under the BIMP-Eaga are deemed crucial in helping realize the Asean goal of establishing a common market and an economic community by 2015.

The program is aimed at making the subregion the major food producer in Asia and a premier ecotourism destination.

The projects for implementation in 2010 and 2011 include the development of more ports in Mindanao and the rehabilitation of the Davao-General Santos Road, both in the Philippines.

There are also projects meant to link power installations between Sarawak in Malaysia and Kalimantan in Indonesia, and the upgrade of Brunei?s border crossing facility in Kuala Lurah.

The BIMP governments also endorsed the construction of a road linking Pontianak and Entikong in Indonesia, and the construction of a bridge over the Pandaruan river between Brunei and Malaysia.

?We have directed our ministers and officials to determine future priorities and to enhance approaches to cooperation to sustain momentum and to build on the gains achieved so far,? the BIMP leaders said in the statement.

Asian Development Bank serves as the regional development advisor for the BIMP. It will also provide financial and technical assistance for the BIMP-EAGA program.