DILG intensifies security for Miss U candidates

MANILA, Philippines - Two weeks before the Miss Universe 2016 pageant’s coronation night on Jan. 30, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its partner agencies are doubling their efforts to ensure the safety of the 84 contestants.

DILG Undersecretary Emily Padilla, who is coordinating with the lead agency Department of Tourism (DOT), reiterated that security plans are in place.

“Although we cannot divulge details of the security aspect of our preparations, rest assured that we in the DILG, together with the other agencies concerned, are doing our best to make this historical event memorable and successful,” Padilla said.

She said the DILG and other agencies of the government are beefing up their individual security plans as they continue to conduct site inspection of the SM Mall of Asia Arena, SMEX Convention, Solaire Hotel and Conrad Hotel, the official home of the Miss Universe candidates for the entire duration of the event.

At 6 p.m. yesterday, the 84 beauty candidates would be officially presented to the public at the red carpet Governor’s Ball at the SM MOA Arena.

“We in the DILG are invited to witness the assembly of the candidates tonight together with other heads of agencies concerned in the preparation for the pageant and in securing the safety of all participants. This is to help give us a clearer picture of the pageant event per se,” Padilla said.

She said the PNP, being the security secretariat in this year’s Miss Universe, has repeatedly expressed confidence that the country’s hosting of the most popular beauty contest will be successful in terms of security.

Padilla said she has informed Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno of the security and logistical preparations being discussed in the Committee on Security, Peace and Order and Emergency Preparedness and Response created solely for the Miss Universe event, to ensure that all actions that will be undertaken are properly guided.

The 13 agencies in charge of the security plans met recently in Camp Crame, Quezon City to finalize the security protocols before the DILG presents the final plan to the DOT.

The candidates would also visit the country’s major tourist destinations like Oslob, Cebu; Davao, Vigan, Siargao Island and Donsol, Sorsogon. 

Meanwhile, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Luzon Romeo Momo yesterday said they have completed the improvements on roads leading to the various venues to be visited by the contestants.

“DPWH is 100 percent prepared. Even if the Miss Universe pageant would be held tomorrow we are ready with our road repair works,” Momo said. 

Among the locations to be visited by the Miss Universe 2016 candidates are Vigan, Baguio, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Batangas.

“In Metro Manila, we improved the roads from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the SM Mall of Asia. The sidewalk and the center islands along the roads were also newly painted. We also fixed the sidewalk,” said Momo.

DPWH National Capital Region director Melvin Navarro said that the candidates would be billeted at the Conrad Hotel near MOA and their movements “restricted.”

“They would just be traveling a short distance from their hotel to SM MOA” which is the venue on pageant day, he said.

Momo said they also continued with their ongoing repairs along the 75-kilometer Manila North Road wherein they implement maintenance of sections that require road widening and asphalt overlay from Manila to Vigan City in Ilocos Sur.

The DPWH is also initiating a road widening along sections of Kennon Road that leads to Baguio City. They are also rehabilitating one by one the five bridges along Kennon Road.

Momo said that there was no specific budget allocated by the department for the Miss Universe preparations and they are merely sourcing their funds from the DPWH regular budget.  – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan