Who is the New DOT Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay?

This is a slightly edited version of an article that was originally published on March 12, 2026.

On March 12, Malacañang refused to confirm rumors that Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco is set to exit the Cabinet, with Dita Angara-Mathay reportedly at the top of the shortlist of possible replacements.

"Malamang bukas ay mayroon po tayong announcement," when asked about the rumored change in leadership in the Tourism Department. "Pwedeng oo, pwedeng hindi. Magbibigay kami ng announcement tomorrow." Still prodded by reporters during a press conference about whether or not it's Dita Angara-Mathay taking over the position, she answered: "Hindi po ako makapagbibigay ng anumang detalye sa ngayon. Hindi pa po ibinibigay sa akin ang papel, kung meron man."

Frasco has been under fire for allegations of using government resources for self-promotion rather than destination marketing amid dwindling numbers in international visitor arrivals. Controversies peaked upon the release of a travel magazine where her image appeared on the cover, leading critics and lawmakers to question why the face of Philippine tourism often seemed to be the Secretary herself instead of the country’s landmarks.

On April 10, the Presidential Communications Office officially announced Dita Angara-Mathay's appointment as Secretary of the Department of 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," PCO said in a press release.

"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," it added.

Dita Angara-Mathay is a Philippine trade diplomat who currently serves as the Commercial Counselor and Special Trade Representative (STR) of the Philippines in Tokyo, Japan. While in this position, she has represented the country in industrial dialogues and international summits, focusing on sectors like electronics and sustainable textiles, including the SEMI Southeast Asia Investment Forum in January 2025 and the Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo in September 2025.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also reported in September 2025 that they were able to secure a total of P51 billion in investment pledges from Japanese companies, following a discussion led by DTI’s Japan unit under Special Trade Representative Angara-Mathay.

In January 2026, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)–Tokyo, partnered with the Philippine Embassy in Japan, ASEAN–Japan Centre (AJC), and the Japan Institute for Design Promotion to hold The Philippine Coconut: Tree of Life, Seed of Innovation exhibition in Minato City, Tokyo. In front of international partners, Angara-mathay, who's also the head of PTIC-Tokyo, shared that the exhibition positions the coconut at a strategic intersection of culture, policy, design, and global cooperation.

She is the wife of Robbie Mathay, a former president of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO).

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