DOT plans Miss Universe hosting after Boracay rehabilitation

The Department of Tourism (DOT) may bid for the country’s hosting of the 2019 edition of the Miss Universe pageant as a way to reintroduce Boracay to the world once the six-month rehabilitation of the world-famous island has been completed.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said in a government podcast that during a recent Cabinet meeting, President Rodrigo Duterte himself raised the idea of having Boracay host next year’s Miss Universe to help the island recover from expected revenue losses.

Teo said the DOT would be “very proud and happy” to showcase the island once it had recovered from the environmental damage it had suffered through the years.

After hosting the 2016 Miss Universe pageant, the Philippines begged off from holding the beauty contest last year.

Rave reviews

But this did not stop the pageant organizers from bringing in newly crowned Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and other contestants in December due to the rave reviews the country received from the beauty queens in 2016.

Teo said Boracay’s closure on April 26 could be considered a “blessing in disguise,” as this would be the best time for visitors to explore the country’s other tourist destinations. —Jovic Yee