By Jill D. Beltran
MANILA, Sept. 7 (PNA) — Organisers of Miss Universe 2017 plan to hold the pageant’s preliminary competition here in Manila.
Tourism Secretary Katherine de Castro said she and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino and other members of the organising committee had agreed “tentatively” to host the preliminaries, including the swimsuit and evening gown competition in Manila.
De Castro and Dino met in Cebu recently to discuss details regarding the much-awaited event.
Earlier reports said that the swimsuit competition will be held separately in Cebu.
However, De Castro clarified that Cebu will not host the swimsuit tilt but the province will only “be featured in the final show”.
“The girls/contestants will be having a dinner, fashion show, culinary experience and beach party in Cebu,” she told the Philippine News Agency.
Among the resorts that have offered to host the event are JPark, Movenpick and Shangri-La, said De Castro.
Other provinces that will be featured include Davao and Ilocos region, she added.
The prestigious beauty pageant will be held in the country on Jan. 30, 2017.
It was in 1994 when Manila last hosted the pageant.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo earlier said that the government would not spend a single centavo for the pageant.
The group of former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson will be the one raising money from the private sector including business magnates like Henry Sy and Kazuo Okada.
Hosting the event will entail a budget of AUD15 million or around Php 520 million.