DOT Leads Miss Universe Inter-Agency Team

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon 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 today.

Major government agencies led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Department of Health (DOH) attended the interagency meeting to ensure the successful holding of the event.

Memorandum Circular No. 13, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last (date), mandates all departments, agencies, bureaus, and all government offices to support the DOT in hosting the 65th edition of the Miss Universe.

Department of Interior and Local Government (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 on his end 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 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 Philippines hosting of the world’s most prestigious international pageant as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte in August last year upon the proposal of the Miss Universe Organization (MOU) and private sponsor Luis Chavit Singson Group of Companies (LCS). (DOT)