Tax breaks eyed for Miss Universe

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – A lawmaker is set to file a House resolution aimed at exempting newly crowned Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach from paying taxes on all her winnings in the international beauty pageant.

Apart from the tax break resolution, Cagayan de Oro second district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez will also file another resolution lauding Wurtzbach for her feat.

Wurtzbach is from Cagayan de Oro City.

“After 42 years, we are proud that a Kagay-anon was crowned as Miss Universe,” Rodriguez said. “We will bestow her the title of Ambassador of Goodwill.”

He said they are looking forward to welcoming Wurtzbach when she comes home from the US.

He added that Wurtzbach has redeemed Cagayan de Oro from the negative criticisms it got from Kiwi beauty queen Nicole Harding.

The 22-year-old Harding, one of the contestants in the controversial Miss Pancontinental International Beauty Pageant held in Cagayan de Oro last month, hurriedly left the city shortly after her arrival from Laguindingan Airport due to safety concerns.

Rodriguez said the House will start investigating the incident when session resumes on Jan. 18, 2016.

He said Harding should apologize for saying that Cagayan de Oro City is more unsafe than Afghanistan.

For his part, Catalino Chan, regional director of the Department of Tourism, expressed confidence that the victory of Wurtzbach in the Miss Universe pageant would push the local tourism industry.

Wurtzbach is the third Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown. Actress Gloria Diaz first won it in 1969, followed by Margie Moran in 1973.