Manila, Jul 29 (IANS): The Philippines is slated to host the next Miss Universe pageant, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo announced.
The pageant will be held on January 30, 2017, CNN Philippines quoted her as saying on Thursday.
"We have a President (Roberto Duterte) that comes from Mindanao and our Miss Universe is also from Mindanao, so I think this is the best time for us to do the Miss Universe here in the Philippines," she said.
Teo said the Department of Tourism is considering holding the pageant at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, CNN Philippines reported.
Filipino-origin Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach claimed the title last year on December 20.
The Philippines has hosted the pageant twice, the most recent in 1994 when India's Sushmita Sen took home the crown.