DEPARTMENT of Tourism-Davao Regional Director Roberto Alabado III said that with the cancellation of the fashion show, there will be adjustments on the planned activities for the Miss Universe candidates in Davao City.
“If the fashion show will be cancelled, we have to redefine the tours because the tours were made in consideration of the show, and the positive part of this is that it will give more time for the Davao experience,” Alabado said.
Alabado added that the destinations are still being finalized for the January 19, 2017 visit.
“Definitely 'yung destinations na pupuntahan nila (that they will go to) will be the ones that will showcase culture and nature,” Alabado said.
As far as tourism officials are concerned ,the issue about Miss Universe in Davao City is only with regards the fashion show.
Davao City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson said they are not privy with the issue of the fashion designers as the Davao City Government has been assigned to provide security.
“The city is not privy to the program na gagawin dito (that will be done here), as far as the city is concerned, nasa security tayo (we are in the security),” she said.
She also brushed off talks that the Miss Universe will not push through in the city.
Tecson said she hopes there will be another talk with Davao designers and the organizers of the pageant to come up with a compromise.
“I am hoping that they will talk to the locals also to the private sector kung ano ang gusto nila, kung saan sila pwede mag-collaborate, if hindisa fashion show, or sa fashion show, kung paano mag-collaborate ang organizing committee at ang locals para naman maging win-win ang solution (about what they want, where they can collaborate, if not in the fashion show, on in the fashion show, on how the organizing committee and the locals can collaborate so there will be a win-win solution),” Tecson added.