Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced that it is “all systems go for the 65th Miss Universe.”
This, after multi-agency representatives sat down with pageant organizers and private partners to finalize the two-week itinerary leading to the Jan. 30 coronation night at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
The Tourism Chief also disclosed the destinations which the Miss Universe candidates are scheduled to visit starting with Boracay (Jan. 14), Vigan (Jan. 15), Manila (Jan. 16), Cebu (Jan. 17), Baguio (Jan. 18), Davao and Batangas (Jan. 19).
Teo added that Vigan will host a terno fashion show while Davao will feature a Mindanao tapestry show as previously announced. All the candidates will fly to the oldest City of Cebu for the swimwear presentation. They will have a photo shoot in their beach wear while in Batangas and will do some strawberry-picking in the summer capital of the Philippines.
Teo confirmed that the Albay and Iloilo events have been cancelled. Albay was badly hit by typhoon Nina while the Iloilo photo shoot had to be taken out due to conflict of schedules.
A Malacañang visit and a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte are likewise scheduled on Jan. 23.
According to Teo, Miss US Virgin Islands will lead the Miss Universe arrivals to the country today, while the big bulk of arrivals will be from Jan. 12 to 13.
When asked what the Miss Universe candidates can expect from the Philippine hosting of this well-loved international pageant, Teo proudly replied, “The uniquely Filipino hospitality.”
DOT Undersecretary Katherine de Castro, on the other hand, revealed that host Steve Harvey will arrive on Jan. 22. Ashley Graham will be the backstage anchor for the pageant.
Filipino pageant aficionados will have better chances to catch the Miss Universe candidates at the National Costume Show, De Castro shared, disclosing that ticket prices here will be from as low as P500.00. The venue, however, is yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Teo assured that concerns about security, vehicular traffic, airport and immigration procedures, transport and accommodations have been addressed by the Miss Universe hosting secretariat in continuous preparations to welcome 87 delegates of the prestigious pageant from across the globe.
“Everything is in place, we just had a successful meeting,” said Teo in a press briefing after the inter-agency meeting held at the DOT main office.
Major government agencies led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of Health (DOH) attended the inter-agency meeting to ensure the successful holding of the event.
Memorandum Circular No. 13, signed by President Duterte, mandates all departments, agencies, bureaus and all government offices to support the DoT in hosting the 65th edition of the Miss Universe.
DILG Undersecretary Emily Padilla said that Philippine National Police (PNP), the local government units concerned, and other law enforcement agencies will ensure security and public safety during the international event.
Police Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Licup said that special task forces have been organized in every host province. The PNP official also assured that “no threat” has been detected anywhere in the country three weeks before the Miss Universe pageant.
“In support of the DoT, we have activated our taskforce; we conducted a lot of meetings already, coordinated with other law enforcement agencies including the Interpol,” stressed Licup.
Meanwhile, DOTr Assistant Secretary Cherry Mercado reiterated that during the event, no roads will be closed and that efforts will be done to avoid causing discomfort to the riding public.
“We are doing the proper coordination with the DoT, MIAA and CAAP to ensure the comfort of both the contestants and the riding public, we are confident that everything will be in order. There will be no road closures or traffic rerouting in Metro Manila and in the host provinces,” she said.
Other agencies present in the inter-agency meeting include the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
DOT is the lead agency in the Philippine hosting of the world’s most prestigious international pageant as approved by President Duterte in August last year upon the proposal of the Miss Universe Organization (MOU) and private sponsor Luis Chavit Singson Group of Companies (LCS).