PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that at least 80 infrastructure projects can be financed using the Maharlika Investment Fund.

Marcos said that the projects had been been identified.

"In addition, we look forward to the operationalization of the Maharlika Investment Fund, the country’s first ever sovereign investment fund. It will serve as an additional source and mode of financing for priority projects of the government, including the infrastructure flagship. These projects offer high returns and significant social economic impact. Currently, we have identified about 80 potential infrastructure projects that are financeable through that fund, the Maharlika Investment Fund," Marcos made the statement at the Philippine Economic Briefing held at Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

The MIF is an additional mode of financing that is aimed to help government’s projects.

Marcos added that the projects would offer high rates of return as well as a  significant socio-economic impact. 

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan for his part said the infrastructure projects are urban-based.

They also said that the MIF will be profitable.

But he did not elaborate the details of the projects.

"Mga airways, mga tollway, profitable mga ýan..." Balisacan said. 

''Based on the expected rates of returns, kasi dapat ýung Maharlika medyo mataas ýung return, the objective is to grow the fund so that we can have more resources for investing in strategic industries. Basically mga urban-based projects like tollways, very profitable for Maharlika," he added. 

Marcos also said that they are prioritizing the implementation of 197 infrastructure flagship projects worth around US$155 billion.

''Incentives are given to projects covering research and development and those adopting advanced digital technologies such as for example artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, data analytics, cloud computing and nanotechnology,'' Marcos said.