ILOILO CITY – The province of Capiz has re-launched ‘voluntourism’ to attract local tourists and the likes to be part of the province’s socio-economic recovery plan.

Capiz has been under a state of calamity after 21 people died and 488,603 people as then tropical storm ‘Agaton’ inundated the province’s 16 towns and the provincial capital. The damages to agriculture and infrastructure reached almost P250 million.

Now, the province is knocking on people who may want to be part of its effort to recover from the blow left by Agaton.

“We are trying to convince and attract people to volunteer and help out,” said Governor Evan Contreras II during the re-launch of the program dubbed ‘Tindog Capiz’ conciding with the Capiztahan Festival which was a celebration of the province’s 121st founding anniversary over the weekend.

“A simple act of random kindness, it matters to other people who are trying to get back on their feet after the flood destroyed their homes or their livelihood,” added Governor Contreras.

‘Tindog Capiz’ is a new version of the program that was initiated by the Department of Tourism (DOT) after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013.

“You can dive, but you can also rehabilitate coral reefs. You can dive, but you can also help cleanup. You can dive and then help the community. That’s the concept,” Al Tesoso, Capiz provincial tourism and cultural affairs officer, told Manila Bulletin.

“This is a continuing program. With the recent flooding, we saw the opportunity to rekindle and strengthen this,” added Tesoro.

Aside from voluntourists, the program also welcomes non-government organizations (NGOs) that can choose communities of farmers or fisherfolks that they want to help.

In return, voluntourists in Capiz province are entitled to discounts from hotels and restaurants as well as get direct linkage with tourism offices in the respective towns.