Who is new Tourism chief Dita Angara-Mathay?

Trade diplomat Dita Angara-Mathay has been picked by President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to lead the Department of Tourism. 

Prior to her latest designation, Angara-Mathay served as the Commercial Counselor and Special Trade Representative (STR) of the Philippines in Tokyo, Japan. 

She represented the country in industrial dialogues and international summits, focusing on sectors such as electronics and sustainable textiles. 

Among the events where she represented the Philippines were the SEMI Southeast Asia Investment Forum in January 2025 and the Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo in September 2025.

Angara-Mathay also initiated programs that link global partnerships to concrete outcomes on the ground, supporting enterprise development, strengthening industries, and expanding opportunities for Filipino businesses, especially MSMEs.

The Presidential Communications Office said that with her appointment as DOT chief, the administration seeks to align tourism with economic growth attracting more investments, supporting local industries, and ensuring that the gains from tourism are felt across the regions. — RSJ, GMA News