MALACAÑANG on Wednesday ordered government agencies to support the Philippines’ hosting of the 65th Miss Universe pageant in Manila but that no public funds should be used..
Memorandum Circular No. 13, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Dec. 28, orders all government agencies to help in easing the country’s hosting of the beauty tilt, without any taxpayers’ money used for the hosting of the international event.
“Except for such reasonable resources required in providing support for the hosting of the Pageant, no public funds shall be expended for the hosting of the 2016 Miss Universe Pageant,” the order read.
The circular, however, allows the Department of Tourism, which backed the Philippines’ hosting of the pageant, to ask for help from other government agencies, local governments, and non-governmental organizations.
“The DoT may call upon any such department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government including GOCCs [government-owned or -controlled corporations] and SUCs [state universities and colleges], LGUs, and non-government organizations for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require,” the MC read.
Government agencies must ensure “there will be no disruption of work and services in their respective offices” because of the pageant, the Palace said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave the green light for the pageant after Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo gave assurances that government money would not be spent on it.
Addressing Duterte’s concerns the pageant could cause more vehicular traffic in Metro Manila, Teo said organizers decided to hold the Manila events in the area around the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City to contain any traffic disruption.