President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tapped veteran trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay as the new Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), replacing Christina Garcia Frasco in a move aimed at strengthening the sector’s economic impact.
In a statement on Friday, April 10, Malacañang underscored Angara-Mathay’s extensive experience in trade, investment, and international economic engagement, describing her as a “seasoned public servant.”
The Palace said her appointment reflects the administration’s push to reposition tourism beyond cultural promotion and toward becoming a major driver of jobs, businesses, and regional development.
Prior to her appointment, Angara-Mathay served as commercial counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo, where she handled programs that connected global partnerships with tangible opportunities for Filipino enterprises, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Malacañang expressed confidence that her leadership will further align tourism with broader economic goals, including attracting investments, strengthening local industries, and expanding opportunities across regions.
Frasco, the first tourism chief under the Marcos administration, was reassigned in March as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities.
During the transition, Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso served as officer-in-charge of the department.
Her stint, however, drew criticism over unmet tourism targets and controversies involving promotional campaigns, particularly the focus on her personal branding in official materials rather than highlighting destinations.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a personal blog on Medium.