Palace: Government won't spare 1 cent for Miss Universe

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Friday that the Philippine government will not give a "single centavo" to fund the Miss Universe pageant, set on Jan. 30, 2017.

READ: Philippines to host Miss Universe coronation night in 2017

"The Philippine government will not be giving a 'single centavo' [to Miss Universe] except of course in terms of services, in terms of protection, in terms of security, but not in actual cash," Abella said at a press conference streamed online.

The government was previously made to shoulder part of expenses of the Miss Universe pageant it hosted in 1994. But President Rodrigo Duterte already directed Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo not to allow Filipinos taxes to go to the pageant hosting next year.

"Basically, when it was first broached to the president, he said it's going to be magastos [noh]. His impression is it's going to be expensive...$11 million, that is his assumption," Abella said.

Earlier this month, reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach paid a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss plans to host the international pageant in the Philippines. Teo has said that Duterte already "approved in principle" the proposal, but he also emphasized that expenses must be shouldered by private sector.

Abella said, meanwhile, that the president has already been assured by the private sector the expenses will be covered.

Meanwhile, it was not clear yet whether who among the private organizations will sponsor what is arguably the most pageant in the world.

Miss Universe is a global marketing event and Teo said it would be an opportunity to boost the tourism industry of the Philippines.

A state news report earlier on Friday revealed the government is looking at six destinations to be featured at the 65th Miss Universe pageant.

After getting the approval of President Duterte for the Philippines to host the pageant next year, the Department of Tourism has begun the negotiations with the organizers of Miss Universe.