Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo on Sunday said Miss Universe pageant organizers were eyeing a Filipina to co-host the international beauty tilt in Manila next month with American TV host-comedian Steve Harvey.

“Definite na si Steve Harvey will be the host. We’re looking for babaeng counterpart niya. Mayroon na kaming napili. Ayaw pa lang sabihin kung sino (We’ve chosen a female co-host, we just don’t want to reveal yet),” Teo said over radio DZMM.

Teo said having a co-host would prevent a repeat of the previous edition’s blunder of announcing the wrong winner.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier rejected the idea of Harvey returning as pageant host in Manila, but tourism officials said the remark appeared to have been a joke. According to Tourism undersecretary Katherine De Castro, Duterte said Harvey was welcome in the Philippines.

De Castro earlier said the DOT wanted Duterte to be a judge in the pageant, but noted that Miss Universe has a rule against having a judge from the host country.

The Miss Universe coronation night will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Jan. 30, 2017. YG/JE/rga