Dita Angara-Mathay
President Marcos has appointed veteran trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay as the new secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT).
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) made the announcement on Friday, April 10.
PCO said Angara-Mathay is "a seasoned public servant with decades of experience in trade, investment, and international economic engagement."
Prior to her appointment, Angara-Mathay served as Commercial Counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo, where she led strategic partnerships with Japanese industries, one of the Philippines’ key sources of investment, technology, and tourism.
"Her appointment reflects the administration’s push to position tourism not only as a cultural showcase, but as a strong driver of jobs, businesses , and regional development," PCO said.
Angara-Mathay has led programs that link global partnerships to concrete outcomes on the ground, supporting enterprise development, strengthening industries, and expanding opportunities for Filipino businesses, especially MSMEs.
According to the PCO, with her appointment, the administration aims to further align tourism with economic growth attracting more investments, supporting local industries, and ensuring that the gains from tourism are felt across the regions.
Angara-Mathay will replace former Tourism secretary Christina Frasco, who was appointed by the President as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities.
Angara-Mathay has been rumored to replace Frasco since last month. Malacañang was asked to confirm her designation as early as March, but the Palace refused to do so.