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DOT eyeing six possible locations for 2017 Miss Universe pageant in PHL


It's another dream come true for Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach after the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed on Thursday that she will be passing her crown in her "home court."

The Philippines will be hosting the pageant's coronation night on January 30, 2017 and in an interview on "News To Go" on Friday, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said they are eyeing six possible locations for the pageant.

"Kino-consider namin ang Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay, Cebu, Palawan, and of course, ang main event would be in Manila," Teo revealed.

All six locations are known destinations for tourist. Both Boracay and Palawan recognized for their picturesque beaches while Cebu's Sinulog Festival regularly attracts both local and foreign travelers.

Davao and Cagayan de Oro, meanwhile, have recently gained particular significance. The former is the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte while the latter is where Wurtzbach grew up.

"We expect tourists to come," Teo said. "Tataas 'yung tourists arrival natin."

She said people will start looking for the Philippines and the search for more information about the destinations once they learn that the country will host the Miss Universe pageant.

Meanwhile, the beauty queens competing for the crown will start arriving by January 15 and will spend around two weeks in the country.

The DOT will be handling the security of the candidates and will coordinate with the private sector regarding tickets, transportation, and accommodations.

However, Teo clarified that the government will not be shouldering the expenses for staging the pageant.

The production of the coronation night would amount to US$11 million, half of which is a franchise fee.

"Walang gagastusin ang gobyerno," Teo said.

She further stated, "Actually sila (Miss Universe Organization), 'yung lumapit sa atin. They wanted the Miss Universe [pageant] to be [hosted] here since 'yung nananalo nga is from the Philippines, si Pia Wurtzbach."

The Philippines is home to two other Miss Universe titlists — Gloria Diaz (1969) and Margarita Moran-Floirendo (1973) — and has hosted the coronation twice before, once in 1974 and again in 1994.

Wurtzbach had been hinting for months at the possibility of the Philippines hosting the pageant again but refrained from celebrating before anything was officially confirmed. — Aya Tantiangco/VVP, GMA News

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