Manila - Australia on Tuesday pledged to provide 100 million Australian dollars (71.3 million US dollars) for road improvement projects in the central and southern Philippines.

Australian Ambassador Rod Smith said the money will be used to repair and maintain more than 1,000 kilometres of provincial roads in 10 provinces in the regions of Visayas and Mindanao.

The funds will be given over a five-year period starting this year, he added.

"It will be Australia's single-largest grant project in the Philippines to date, and is a further demonstration of Australia's commitment to working side-by-side with the Philippines as a development partner," Smith said.

The envoy said the project was expected to help boost economic activity and the delivery of services to millions of people in the affected provinces.

"Good roads are crucial to economic development," he said. "They improve access to markets by significantly reducing travel times and costs, link producers to markets and connect rural to urban areas."

"Better roads will also improve access to jobs, health services and essential social and educational facilities in rural and regional areas," he added.

Australia is one of the Philippines' largest bilateral aid donors. It has provided an estimated 4.4 billion pesos (92 million dollars) in development assistance since 2008. (dpa)