The secretary of tourism is the head of the Department of Tourism, the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the regulation, planning, and promotion of the Philippine tourism industry. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet and serves as the principal adviser to the president of the Philippines on tourism policy.
The position was established on May 11, 1973, when President Ferdinand Marcos created the Department of Tourism through Presidential Decree No. 189. The current secretary is Dita Angara-Mathay, who assumed office on April 10, 2026.
History The position was created on May 11, 1973, through Presidential Decree No. 189, which established the Department of Tourism as a separate cabinet-level agency by splitting it from the former Department of Trade and Tourism. Jose Aspiras was appointed as the first secretary of tourism, serving from 1973 until the People Power Revolution in 1986—the longest tenure of any tourism secretary at nearly 13 years.
Following the adoption of the 1973 Philippine Constitution, which introduced a semi-parliamentary structure, the position was retitled Minister of Tourism. This title remained in use until President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 120 on January 30, 1987, which provided that upon adoption of the new Constitution establishing a presidential system, "the Ministry shall be called Department of Tourism and the titles of Minister, Deputy Minister, and Assistant Minister shall be changed to Secretary, Undersecretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively."
The secretary's powers and responsibilities were substantially expanded and codified by Republic Act No. 9593, the Tourism Act of 2009, signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 12, 2009.
Appointment The secretary of tourism derives constitutional authority from Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which provides that "The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments."
The appointment process requires presidential nomination followed by confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, a constitutional body composed of senators and representatives. The nominee appears before the CA Committee on Tourism and Economic Development for deliberation before endorsement to the plenary for final confirmation. Appointments made while Congress is in recess are designated "ad interim" and lapse if not confirmed before adjournment, requiring renomination.
Cabinet secretaries are bound by Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution, which prohibits them from holding other government offices or practicing any profession during their tenure.
Powers and responsibilities Under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9593, the secretary of tourism exercises authority over tourism policy and regulation. The secretary's functions include:
Formulating and supervising tourism policies, plans, programs, and projects Coordinating with government agencies to implement tourism programs Communicating to the president the impact of proposed governmental actions upon tourism Representing the Philippines in domestic and international conferences concerning tourism, including treaty negotiations Formulating rules governing the operation of tourism enterprises Establishing national standards for licensing and accreditation of tourism establishments Monitoring travel conditions and issuing safety advisories Supporting the protection of historical, cultural, and natural endowments
Ex-officio positions The Tourism Act of 2009 vests the secretary with extensive ex-officio positions across government bodies:
Position Body Legal basis Chairperson Tourism Promotions Board RA 9593, Sec. 47 Chairperson TIEZA Board of Directors RA 9593, Sec. 65 Chairperson Duty Free Philippines Corporation Board RA 9593, Sec. 91 Chairperson Philippine Retirement Authority Board of Trustees RA 9593, Sec. 30 Chairperson Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving Board RA 9593, Sec. 31 Vice-Chairperson Civil Aeronautics Board RA 9593, Sec. 96 Vice-Chairperson Governing boards of international airports RA 9593, Sec. 96 Member Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Board RA 9593, Sec. 96
Rank and compensation The secretary of tourism holds Salary Grade 31 under the Salary Standardization Law, equivalent to all Department Secretaries.
The secretary of tourism is not in the constitutional line of presidential succession, which under Article VII, Section 8 passes from the vice president to the Senate president to the speaker of the House.
List of secretaries of tourism
Secretary of Tourism (1973–1978) Portrait Name(Birth–Death) Took office Left office President Jose Aspiras(1924–1999) May 11, 1973 June 2, 1978 Ferdinand Marcos
Minister of Tourism (1978–1987) Portrait Name(Birth–Death) Took office Left office President Jose D. Aspiras(1924–1999) June 2, 1978 February 25, 1986 Ferdinand Marcos Jose Antonio U. Gonzales February 25, 1986 February 11, 1987 Corazon Aquino
Secretary of Tourism (1987–present) Portrait Name(Birth–Death) Took office Left office President Jose Antonio U. Gonzales February 11, 1987 April 14, 1989 Corazon Aquino Narzalina Z. LimActing April 15, 1989 June 7, 1989 Peter D. Garrucho Jr. June 8, 1989 January 8, 1991 Rafael Alunan III(born 1948) January 9, 1991 February 16, 1992 Narzalina Z. LimActing February 17, 1992 September 10, 1992 Fidel V. Ramos Vicente T. Carlos September 11, 1992 July 3, 1995 Eduardo P. Pilapil July 4, 1995 March 28, 1996 Evelyn B. PantigActing March 29, 1996 April 7, 1996 Mina T. Gabor April 8, 1996 June 30, 1998 Gemma Cruz-Araneta(born 1943) July 1, 1998 January 19, 2001 Joseph Estrada Dick Gordon(born 1945) January 20, 2001 January 4, 2004 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Robert Dean BarbersOfficer in Charge January 5, 2004 February 25, 2004 Roberto Pagdanganan(born 1946) February 26, 2004 August 31, 2004 Evelyn B. PantigActing September 1, 2004 November 29, 2004 Ace Durano(born 1970) November 30, 2004 June 30, 2010 Alberto Lim June 30, 2010 August 12, 2011 Benigno Aquino III Ramon Jimenez Jr.(1955–2020) September 1, 2011 June 30, 2016 Wanda Tulfo Teo(born 1952) June 30, 2016 May 8, 2018 Rodrigo Duterte Bernadette Romulo-Puyat(born 1971) May 11, 2018 June 30, 2022 Christina Frasco(born 1981) June 30, 2022 March 12, 2026 Bongbong Marcos Verna BuensucesoOfficer in Charge March 18, 2026 April 9, 2026 Dita Angara-MathayApril 10, 2026Incumbent
See also Department of Tourism (Philippines) Tourism in the Philippines Cabinet of the Philippines
Notes
References
External links Department of Tourism Philippines official website Republic Act No. 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009) at the Official Gazette Presidential Decree No. 189 at the Official Gazette