DOT: Miss Universe to be held in Manila, preparations underway

The Department of Tourism dispelled the rumors on social media that the next Miss Universe pageant will no longer be held in the Philippines. On Wednesday, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and Undersecretary Kat De Castro assured the public that the coronation night will happen in Manila on January 30.

"I'd like to assure you that Miss Universe will be here, the contest will be here on January 30," Teo declared in an interview with GMA News' Balitanghali.

The candidates are expected to arrive on January 13, weeks ahead of the coronation night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

De Castro said that the department is following President Rodrigo Duterte's instructions to confine all the activities for the pageant to one venue in Manila, but they are also working on the itinerary for the candidate's visits to different provinces in the country.

"Not all the girls will be going to different provinces, some would have like 10 to 15 girls. For example, [for] Siargao, we will only bring the candidates who know how to surf," De Castro explained.

DOT is also eyeing Intramuros, Batangas, Palawan, Legazpi, Cebu, and Davao as venues for candidates to visit.

The Toursim department will be working with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a security plan.

The officials also stressed that the government is not spending a single centavo to stage the pageant. — Aya Tantiangco/BM, GMA News