President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Dita Angara-Mathay as Secretary of the Department of Tourism, bringing in a seasoned public servant with decades of experience in trade, investment, and international economic engagement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a news release Friday.
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.
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.
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.