President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay as secretary of the Department of Tourism, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced Friday.
In a statement on Friday, the PCO described Angara-Mathay as “a seasoned public servant with decades of experience in trade, investment, and international economic engagement.”
The PCO said her appointment reflects the administration’s push to position tourism not only as a cultural showcase but also as a strong driver of jobs, businesses, and regional development.
“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,” the PCO said.
Angara-Mathay replaced former Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, who now serves as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities.
Prior to her appointment, Angara-Mathay served as Commercial Counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tokyo, where she handled strategic partnerships with Japanese industries, one of the Philippines’ key sources of investment, technology, and tourism.
The PCO added that Angara-Mathay has led programs linking global partnerships to on-the-ground outcomes, supporting enterprise development, strengthening industries, and expanding opportunities for Filipino businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Frasco’s transfer to her new role underscores the President’s continued trust in her leadership.
Palace Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier said the former tourism chief would focus on integrating national programs to promote sustainable and resilient communities, including disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable local development.
Castro said Frasco will coordinate with national agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders to implement presidential directives and monitor progress of priority initiatives.
Frasco, in a statement, thanked the President for the trust and reflected on her tenure as tourism chief.
“It was a privilege to serve as Secretary of Tourism, and I look forward to supporting the Administration’s efforts to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of communities across the Philippines,” she said.
Comments