Hyderabad, July 13 (IANS): GMR-Megawide is among six groups who are bidding to develop, operate and maintain five airports in Philippines under public private partnership projects worth $2.4 billion.

Six groups have applied to pre-qualify and bid for the bundled projects since they were rolled out in December last year by the department of transportation and communications (DOTC).

Prospective bidders have to submit pre-qualification requirements for the bundled airport projects under PPP program by July 27, said a statement by Public Private Partnership Center of Philippines.

The other groups in the race are Metro-Pacific - JG Summit Consortium, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, San Miguel Corp., Philippine Skylanders Inc. and Union Equities.

These PPP projects involve the development, operations and maintenance of the five regional airports. The private partner will provide additional facilities and other necessary improvements to enhance passenger safety, security, access, passenger and cargo movement efficiency, and operational efficiency as well as actively market the airports in order to develop direct international passenger traffic and diversify revenue sources, said the statement.

The five airports are divided in two bundles. Bacolod-Silay, Iloilo (Bundle one), Davao, Laguindingan, and New Bohol A(Bundle two) with an estimated total cost of Php 108.19 billion ($2.40 billion).

GMR-Megawide currently runs Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the first airport in Philippines to be privatised under PPP programme.