The Camotes Aspin Project

The Challenge

Before 2023, the Camotes Islands had no veterinary infrastructure of any kind, leaving free-roaming dog and cat populations unmanaged and local rescue efforts without support.

• •No veterinarians or clinics anywhere on the islands.
• •Limited local resources and fragmented rescue efforts.
• •Unmanaged free-roaming dog and cat populations.
• •High cost of bringing veterinary teams from mainland Cebu.
• •Little to no involvement from the tourism sector.

The Solution: Tourism-Funded Veterinary Access

Founded in March 2023, the Camotes Aspin Project applied the CANDi Humane Tourism Framework. Tourism partners cover travel and accommodation for visiting veterinary teams, so nearly all funding goes directly to surgeries and medicine.

• •Tourism-funded veterinary travel, with resorts covering travel and lodging for visiting teams.
• •Local partnerships with Sugbo Veterinarians and The Good Pets Club.
• •Community-led implementation alongside local authorities and residents.
• •Sustainable veterinary access through a stable operational base on the islands.

The Tourism Impact

Tourism involvement turned a fragmented rescue effort into a coordinated destination program. Resorts, transport operators, and local businesses now share responsibility for the wellbeing of the islands they depend on.

For visitors, that means fewer distressing encounters and a destination that visibly cares for its animals. For communities, it means local capacity, public health benefits, and a stewardship story the islands can be proud of.

Measurable Progress

Key Takeaway for Tourism Leaders

The Camotes Aspin Project shows that tourism partnerships and local collaboration can create lasting change even in destinations with no veterinary access. CANDi coordinates implementation, so tourism partners contribute to measurable community impact without managing programs themselves.

Sources: CANDi Community Partner Directory (2026), Camotes Aspin Project Impact Report (April 2026).