Former Provincial Administrator Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio said he wants to position the Abatan River as Bohol’s next major eco-tourism destination, citing its untapped potential to benefit five riverside towns.
Damalerio discussed his vision during an interview on the radio program Open Forum, saying the river could draw visitors beyond the province’s traditional tourism hubs of Panglao and Tagbilaran City.
The Abatan River flows through the towns of Cortes, Antequera, Balilihan, Maribojoc and Catigbian.
Damalerio said the five local governments have formed a council to jointly protect their shared interests in the waterway.
Damalerio is the sole owner and developer of Abatan River View, an inland resort along the riverbank that opened to the public on March 18, 2026.
He said the project was 18 years in the making and was designed to reflect the river’s natural landscape, with secluded, uniquely designed villas aimed at visitors seeking a quiet retreat.
He said the concept grew out of his belief that the river’s scenery had not been fully showcased to tourists, and that an eco-tourism venture could help spread development benefits to the towns along its banks.
The Abatan River, one of Bohol’s key ecotourism attractions, is best known for its firefly-watching river cruises held at dusk, when thousands of fireflies illuminate the mangrove trees lining its banks.
The river’s mangrove forest is also a habitat for fireflies and various bird species, and communities along the Abatan have developed community-based tourism programs, including boat tours and mangrove conservation initiatives, over the past two decades.