Trade Diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay Named DOT Chief

President Marcos has named Dita Angara-Mathay as secretary of the Department of Tourism, replacing Christina Frasco. 

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in a statement, described Mathay as “a seasoned public servant with decades of experience in trade, investment and international economic engagement.”

Prior to her new post, she served as commercial counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo, Japan 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,” the PCO said. 

“Throughout her career, 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 (micro, small and medium enterprises),” it said. 

The agency added: “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.”

Wife to former Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority president Robbie Mathay, the new DOT chief was noted for representing the Philippines in key industry discussions and summits involving the electronics and sustainable textiles sectors, including the SEMI Southeast Asia Investment Forum in Malaysia and the Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo in 2025.

In September of that year, the Philippines secured a P51-billion investment from Japanese companies following Mathay’s leadership in these engagements.

The former trade diplomat also spearheaded an exhibition last January at the Tokyo Design Hub to showcase the intersection of the Philippine coconut with culture, policy, design and global cooperation. 

Marcos last month named Frasco as presidential adviser for sustainable and resilient communities following criticisms over the country’s weak tourism arrivals.

The former tourism secretary also drew flak for allowing the publication of tourism promotional materials prominently showing her face, with some accusing her of self-promotion rather than marketing the country’s destinations.

Frasco, daughter of former Cebu governor Gwen Garcia, served as mayor of Liloan, Cebu and spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte. – With an additional report from Andrew Ronquillo