The Abatan River Development Management Council (ARDMC) during the soft opening of The Buzzz – Abatan at the Abatan River Main Village Center on April 13, 2023 (seated left to right) Cortes Mayor Lynn Iven Lim, Cong. Edgar Chatto, Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto, Bohol Bee Farm owner Vicky Sandidge, Catigbian Mayor Elizabeth Mandin-Pace, Antequera Mayor Jose Mario Pahang, and Maribojoc Mayor Romulo Manuta. (Standing left to right) ARDMC Executive Director Emilia Roslinda, Balilihan Vice Mayor Esther Patrisha Chatto, Cortes Vice Mayor Rodrigo Dennis Uy, Catigbian Vice Mayor Esteban Angilan, Antequera Vice Mayor Cecille Rebosura-Solomon and Maribojoc Vice Mayor Emilio Castilla. Contributed photo

Cong. Edgar Chatto lauded the partnership of the members of the Abatan River Development Management Council (ARDMC) and Bohol Bee Farm during the soft opening of The Buzzz Cafe in Abatan on April 13, 2023.

“This partnership of the ARDMC municipalities of Antequera, Balilihan, Catigbian, Cortes, and Maribojoc with the Bohol Bee Farm by Vicky Sandidge can help push for the success of the vision for Abatan,” Chatto said before mayors and vice mayors of member towns.

Under the setup, LGU Cortes being the host municipality is tasked to manage the Abatan River Community Life Tour (ARCLT) to include the Main Village Center and the river activities, adopting as model the management framework of the Albur Cluster Sanitary Landfill.

Meanwhile, The Buzzz Cafe, which will be opened on April 26, 2023, operates in the main village center while promoting unique food offerings of the ARDMC towns.

Present during the meeting were Cortes Mayor Lynn Iven Lim and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Dennis Uy, Antequera Mayor Jose Mario Pahang and Vice Mayor Cecille Rebosura-Solomon; Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto and Vice Mayor Esther Patrisha Chatto, Catigbian Mayor Elizabeth Mandin-Pace and Vice Mayor Esteban Angilan;  Maribojoc Mayor Romulo Manuta and Vice Mayor Emilio Castilla; ARDMC Executive Director Emmie Roslinda and Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte who came on behalf of Gov. Aris Aumentado.

Begun in 2018, the ARDMC and its Community Life Tour, as conceptualized by Chatto, with the support of the Department of Tourism (DOT), was implemented to pursue environmental preservation of the biodiversity-rich Abatan River, employment creation through the tourism industry and hand in hand with cultural development.