Carood Watershed

Overview

The Carood Watershed is a river and landscape system in Barangay Panadtaran, Candijay, Bohol. It is listed in the provincial tourist-attraction inventory under the Nature — River and Landscapes category.

The watershed is characterized by gently rolling hills interspersed with level terraces and lowlands. The vegetative landscape is primarily agricultural lands with grass and shrublands in the upper reaches. The Carood River drains a catchment area that spans several municipalities in southeastern Bohol.

The Panadtaran Mangrove Forest lies near the watershed’s coastal outflow, connecting the freshwater river system to coastal marine habitats.

The watershed covers approximately 21,700 hectares (per a 2018 FAO technical assessment; a 2025 Philippine government report cites just over 20,400 hectares), ranking as the fifth largest of Bohol’s twelve major watersheds. It originally spanned six municipalities — Alicia, Candijay, Guindulman, Mabini, Pilar, and Ubay — with neighboring Anda later joining as a seventh member of the Carood Watershed Management Council. The Carood River runs approximately 23 km and is fed by two main tributaries, the Napo River (in Alicia) and the Gabayan River (in Candijay), before discharging into Cogtong Bay; its lower reach is also known locally as the Matul-id River.

Near the river’s mouth at Cogtong Bay, 33 mangrove species — out of roughly 80 known worldwide — have been recorded, making it the most biodiverse mangrove area in Central Visayas. The wider watershed is also noted for rich bird and plant biodiversity, including a number of endemic species.

Location

Barangay Panadtaran, Candijay, Bohol. Candijay is a municipality in the southeastern part of Bohol, approximately 80 km from Tagbilaran City via the Bohol Circumferential Road.

Getting There

From Tagbilaran City, take a bus or van bound for Jagna or Candijay along the southern coastal road. Travel time to Candijay is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. From Candijay town center, access to Panadtaran and the watershed requires a habal-habal or tricycle.

[TO ENRICH: specific trailhead or access point for the watershed, whether organized tours are available.]

Practical Info

• Gateway: Jagna
• Municipality: Candijay
• Barangay: Panadtaran
• Tourism type: Nature — River and Landscapes

[TO ENRICH: fees, ranger station, guided tour availability, swimming or kayaking access.]

What to Expect

This is a working landscape rather than a developed visitor site — no trails or facilities are recorded, and the land cover shifts from cultivated lowland fields near the coast to grass and shrub on the upper slopes. Its ecological value concentrates downstream: at Cogtong Bay, where the watershed’s freshwater and sediment feed the Panadtaran mangrove stand, one of the most species-rich mangrove areas in Central Visayas.

[TO ENRICH: wildlife, bird species, community-based ecotourism programs, best access points for photography or exploration.]

Notes

• Listed in the BPTO Table 11 Inventory of Tourist Attractions (2025).
• The Carood River system has ecological significance as a freshwater source for communities in southeastern Bohol.
• Candijay is also home to Cadapdapan Rice Terraces and Can-umantad Falls.