The Manila Times
(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed veteran trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay as the new head of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Malacañang announced Friday. The Palace said Angara-Mathay was a “seasoned public servant” who would bring her “decades of experience in trade, investment, and international economic engagement” to the DOT. “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,” it said. Prior to her appointment, Angara-Mathay was the commercial counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo, Japan. She often represented the country in trade dialogues and summits. During her stint as commercial counselor, the Philippines was able to secure P51 billion in new investments in 2025. Some of the key companies included in this commitment were Koshidaka Holdings, Marubeni Corp., Sojitz Corp., as well as Mitsui & Co. “Throughout her career, 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,” Malacañang said. With Angara-Mathay’s 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,” it said. Angara-Mathay is the wife of Robbie Mathay, a former president of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority. She replaced Christina Garcia Frasco, who was appointed by the president as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Last March, Marcos assigned Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso as officer-in-charge of the agency pending the appointment of a new secretary.
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