MANILA — Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed career trade and investment official Ma. Bernardita “Dita” Angara-Mathay as Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Friday, April 10, 2026.
The appointment places a foreign service trade diplomat with experience in investment promotion at the helm of the country’s tourism agency, as the administration seeks to further align tourism with broader economic and infrastructure development priorities.
Tokyo Trade Post and Investment Promotion Role
Prior to her Cabinet appointment, Angara-Mathay served as commercial counselor at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo, Japan, under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Foreign Trade Service Corps.
In that role, she represented Philippine economic interests in trade missions, investment briefings, and bilateral economic dialogues aimed at strengthening commercial relations with Japan, one of the country’s largest sources of foreign investment.
Government investment promotion reports during the period indicated that the Philippines secured approximately ₱51 billion in investment commitments from Japanese firms in 2025, including engagements involving companies such as Koshidaka Holdings, Marubeni Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, and Mitsui & Co. These commitments formed part of broader national investment promotion outcomes.
Tourism Policy Direction Under Review
According to the PCO, the appointment reflects an effort to position tourism as both a destination development sector and a contributor to investment generation, employment, and regional economic growth.
Officials said tourism strategy is expected to be more closely integrated with infrastructure development and regional economic planning under the new leadership, although a formal policy roadmap has not yet been released.
Angara-Mathay succeeds Christina Garcia Frasco, who was earlier reassigned within the administration. Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso previously served as officer-in-charge during the transition, based on government information.
Transition and Policy Briefings Underway
The Department of Tourism has not issued a formal policy statement under Angara-Mathay as of this writing. Government officials said transition briefings and internal consultations are underway as she assumes leadership of the agency.
Professional Background and Family Profile
Ma. Bernardita “Dita” Angara-Mathay is a Philippine career trade and investment official with experience in economic diplomacy under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Foreign Trade Service Corps. She previously served at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo, Japan, supporting trade and investment promotion initiatives between the Philippines and Japan.
Her work has focused on strengthening market access and investment linkages for Philippine industries through overseas commercial postings.
Angara-Mathay is married to Robbie Mathay, who has been associated with leadership roles in economic zone development, including the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), based on institutional records.
(Article originally appeared on asianjournal.com / April 11, 2026)