Pan-Philippine Highway
The Pan-Philippine Highway, also known as the Maharlika Highway (Tagalog: Daang Maharlika; Cebuano: Dalang Halangdon), is a network of roads, expressways, bridges, and ferry services that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao in the Philippines, serving as the country's principal transport backbone. Measuring 3,379.73 kilometers (2,100.07 mi) long excluding sea routes not counted by highway milestones, it is the longest highway in the Philippines that forms the country's north–south backbone component of National Route 1 (N1) of the Philippine highway network. The entire highway is designated as Asian Highway 26 (AH26) of the Asian Highway Network.[1][2]
Pan-Philippine Highway | |
---|---|
| |
Route information | |
Maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) | |
Length | 3,379.73 km[2] (2,100.07 mi) Excludes sea route Includes 96.98 km (60.26 mi) Tacloban–Ormoc spur and 292.39 km (181.68 mi) Davao–Cagayan de Oro spur |
Existed | 1960s–present |
Major junctions | |
North end | Laoag, Philippines |
South end | Zamboanga City, Philippines |
Location | |
Country | Philippines |
Regions | |
Provinces |
|
Highway system | |
The northern terminus of the highway is in Laoag and the southern terminus is in Zamboanga City.[1]
History
The Pan-Philippine Highway System was an infrastructure program of President Diosdado Macapagal as a first priority project for the improvement and expansion of Philippine highway and land transport networks. It was stated in his final State of the Nation Address in 1965 that the project requires the concreting of 3,003 kilometers (1,866 mi) from 1965 to 1969 (continuing to the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos) that included 11,333 bridges, comprising the whole system.[3] It is a mixture of old existing roads and new roads that would be eventually added to become part of the highway.[4][5][6] Government planners believed that the motorway and other connected roads would stimulate agricultural production by reducing transport costs, encourage social and economic development outside existing major urban centers such as Manila, and expand industrial production for domestic and overseas markets. Construction, which continued in the following decades, was supported by loans and grants from foreign aid institutions, including the World Bank. In 1979, the highway was renamed to Maharlika Highway.[7]
The highway was rehabilitated and improved in 1997, during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, with assistance from the Japanese government, and dubbed the "Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway".[8] Japan's assistance is applied only up to Carmen, Davao del Norte at the south, thus covering only about 2,100 kilometers (1,300 mi) or about 62% of the highway's entire length.[9] In 1998, the Department of Tourism designated 35 sections of the highway as "Scenic Highways", with developed amenities for travelers and tourists.
Asian Highway Network
The Pan-Philippine Highway is designated as AH26 in the Asian Highway Network, a cooperative project which seeks to improve highway systems and standards across the continent. Ratified by the Philippines in 2007, it is currently the only highway in the system that is isolated from every other highway; island-based sections of the Asian Highway Network in Japan (AH1), Sri Lanka (AH43) and Indonesia (AH2) are all linked to the mainland sections by ferries to South Korea (AH1), India (Dhanushkodi), and Singapore, respectively.
Route description
AH26 officially runs along the following thoroughfares:[10][11]
- N1: Laoag – Guiguinto
- Manila North Road[note 1]/Maharlika Highway: Laoag[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] – Burgos[lower-alpha 4] – Aparri
- Bangag-Magapit Road: Aparri – Lal-lo[lower-alpha 5]
- Cagayan Valley Road:[note 1] Lal-lo – Tuguegarao
- Maharlika Highway:[note 1][lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7] San Pablo – Ilagan – Santiago – Solano[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 9] – Bayombong – San Jose City – Cabanatuan – Gapan – San Miguel – Baliuag – Pulilan – Guiguinto
- E1: Guiguinto – Quezon City
- North Luzon Expressway:[note 1] Santa Rita Interchange – Balintawak Interchange
- N1: Quezon City – Makati
- EDSA (Eastern Route): Balintawak Interchange – Magallanes Interchange
- E2: Makati – Calamba
- South Luzon Expressway:[note 1] Magallanes Interchange – Calamba Exit
- N1: Calamba – Matnog
- Maharlika Highway:[note 1][lower-alpha 10] Calamba – Santo Tomas – San Pablo – Tiaong[lower-alpha 11] – Candelaria[lower-alpha 12] – Sariaya[lower-alpha 13] – Tayabas
- Lucena Diversion Road:[lower-alpha 14] Tayabas – Lucena – Pagbilao
- Maharlika Highway:[lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 15][lower-alpha 16] Pagbilao[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 17] – Gumaca[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 18] – Calauag – Daet – Milaor – Naga City[lower-alpha 19] – Daraga – Sorsogon City[lower-alpha 20] – Matnog
- Gap (San Bernardino Strait)
- N1: Allen – Calbayog[lower-alpha 21] – Catbalogan[lower-alpha 22] – Tacloban – Palo – Mahaplag – Liloan
- Gap (Bohol Sea)
- N1: Surigao City – Zamboanga City
- Maharlika Highway: Surigao City – Kitcharao
- Surigao-Butuan National Highway: Kitcharao – Butuan
- Davao-Agusan National Highway: Butuan – Bayugan – Tagum – Davao City[lower-alpha 23]
- J.P. Laurel Avenue: Davao City
- C.M. Recto Avenue: Davao City (one-way street)
- Davao–Cotabato Road:[note 1] Davao City[lower-alpha 24] – Digos
- Digos-Makar Road:[lower-alpha 25] Digos[lower-alpha 12] – Malungon – General Santos[lower-alpha 26]
- Marbel-Makar Road:[lower-alpha 27] General Santos – Polomolok[lower-alpha 28] – Koronadal[lower-alpha 29]
- Cotabato-Marbel Road:[lower-alpha 30][lower-alpha 31][lower-alpha 32] Koronadal[lower-alpha 33] – Banga – Surallah – Norala
- Isulan-Surallah Road: Isulan[lower-alpha 34]
- Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road: Isulan – Cotabato City[lower-alpha 35]
- Cotabato-Lanao Road:[lower-alpha 36][lower-alpha 37] Cotabato City – Matanog
- Cotabato–Malabang–Lanao del Norte Road:[lower-alpha 37][lower-alpha 38][lower-alpha 39] Sultan Dumalondong – Picong
- Malabang–Dobleston–Tukuran Road:[lower-alpha 38] Sultan Naga Dimaporo
- Tucuran Junction–Karomatan Junction Road:[lower-alpha 38] Tukuran[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 12]
- Maharlika Highway:[lower-alpha 40][lower-alpha 39][lower-alpha 38] Tukuran[lower-alpha 4] – Pagadian[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 4]– Ipil – Tungawan – Zamboanga City[lower-alpha 41]
Auxiliary Routes
Alternatively, AH26 runs along the following thoroughfares:[10][11]
- Luzon (West Metro Manila)
- N1: Quezon City – Caloocan
- EDSA (Western Route): Balintawak Interchange – Monumento
- N120: Caloocan – Pasay
- Samson Road: Caloocan
- Gen. San Miguel Street: Caloocan
- C-4 Road: Caloocan – Malabon – Navotas
- R-10: Navotas
- Mel Lopez Boulevard:[lower-alpha 42] Manila
- Bonifacio Drive: Manila
- Roxas Boulevard:[note 1] Manila – Pasay
- N1: Pasay – Makati
- EDSA (Western Route): Roxas Boulevard – Magallanes Interchange
- Luzon (South Skyway)
- Visayas
- Mindanao
Intersections
- Ilocos Norte
- Cagayan
- N223 in Abulug
- N121 in Abulug
- N101 / N119 at Magapit Interchange, Lal-lo
- N104 in Tuguegarao
- N105 in Tuguegarao
- N51 / N106 in Tuguegarao
- N104 in Tuguegarao
- Isabela
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Nueva Ecija
- N56 / N111 in San Jose
- N114 in Santo Domingo
- N111 in Cabanatuan
- N58 in Santa Rosa
- N3 in Gapan
- Bulacan
- N247 in San Rafael
- N115 in Pulilan
- N116 in Plaridel
- E1 / N1 in Santa Rita, Guiguinto. Route number change from N1 to E1.
- N247 in Balagtas
- E1 in Balagtas
- N117 in Meycauayan
- Metro Manila
- N118 in Valenzuela
- E5 at Harbor Link Interchange, Valenzuela
- N127 in Unang Sigaw, Quezon City
- N1 / N160 at Balintawak Interchange, Quezon City. Route number change from E1 to N1.
- N127 in Unang Sigaw, Quezon City
- N129 in Muñoz, Quezon City
- N171 / N173 in Diliman, Quezon City
- N170 in Diliman, Quezon City
- N172 / N174 in Diliman, Quezon City
- N180 / N59 in Cubao, Quezon City
- N185 near Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
- N184 / N60 at Ortigas Interchange in Quezon City and Mandaluyong
- N141 in Mandaluyong
- N190 (Kalayaan Avenue) in Makati
- N191 in Makati
- N190 (Gil Puyat Avenue) in Makati
- N1 / N145 at Magallanes Interchange, Makati. Route number change from N1 to E2.
- E6 in Taguig
- N11 in Taguig
- N63 in Parañaque and Muntinlupa
- N1 in Alabang, Muntinlupa
- E2 in Muntinlupa
- Cavite
- Laguna (2nd segment)
- Batangas
- E2 in Santo Tomas
- N4 in Santo Tomas
- Laguna (3rd segment)
- Quezon
- N608 in Tiaong (northern terminus)
- N435 in Tiaong
- N608 in Tiaong (southern terminus)
- N609 in Candelaria (western & eastern termini)
- N606 in Sariaya
- N606 in Isabang, Tayabas
- N422 in Isabang, Lucena
- N603 in Gulang-Gulang, Lucena
- N606 in Talipan, Pagbilao
- N610 in Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao
- N613 in Gumaca
- N612 in Lopez
- N657 in Lopez
- Camarines Norte
- N68 in Santa Elena
- N620 in Labo
- N621 in Daet (northern & southern termini)
- Camarines Sur
- N68 in Sipocot
- N623 in Pamplona
- N672 in Pili
- N673 in Pili
- N630 in Pili
- N634 in Baao
- N634 in Nabua
- N635 in Bato
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- N642 in Pilar
- N641 in Castilla
- N643 in Sorsogon City (western terminus)
- N644 in Sorsogon City
- N643 in Sorsogon City (eastern terminus)
- N645 in Bulan
- Northern Samar
- N670 in Allen
- Samar
- N672 in Calbayog
- N673 in Calbayog
- N677 in Gandara (northern & southern termini)
- N675 in Catbalogan
- N674 in Paranas
- N670 in Basey
- N670 in Santa Rita
- Samar–Leyte boundary
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Surigao del Norte
- N901 in Surigao City
- N902 in Placer
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- N903 in Prosperidad
- N904 in Prosperidad
- N905 in San Francisco
- N904 / N73 in Trento
- Davao de Oro
- N906 in Montevista
- N907 in Nabunturan
- Davao del Norte
- N908 in Tagum (northern terminus)
- N909 / N74 in Tagum
- N908 in Tagum (southern terminus)
- N910 in Carmen
- N909 in Panabo
- Davao del Sur
- N913 in Buhawan, Davao City (eastern terminus)
- N915 in Buhangin, Davao City
- N916 in Agdao, Davao City (eastern terminus)
- N917 in Agdao, Davao City
- N918 in Agdao & Buhangin, Davao City
- N919 / N920 in Poblacion, Davao City
- N919 in Poblacion, Davao City
- N920 in Poblacion, Davao City
- N921 in Talomo, Davao City
- N916 in Talomo, Davao City (western terminus)
- N913 in Talomo, Davao City (western terminus)
- N10 in Talomo, Davao City
- N923 in Digos (northern terminus)
- N75 in Digos
- N924 in Digos
- N923 in Digos (southern terminus)
- N930 in Sulop
- South Cotabato
- N931 in General Santos (eastern terminus)
- N930 in General Santos
- N935 in General Santos
- N931 in General Santos
- Sultan Kudarat
- Maguindanao del Sur
- N933 in Datu Saudi Ampatuan
- Maguindanao del Norte
- N75 in Sultan Kudarat
- N935 in Datu Odin Sinsuat
- N936 in Datu Odin Sinsuat
- Lanao del Sur
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Zamboanga City
- N968
- N966 / N970 / N971. Southern terminus of AH26.
Auxiliary routes
- N1 / N160 / E1 in Balintawak, Quezon City. Northern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Metro Manila.
- N1 / N150 in Caloocan. Route number change from N1 to N120.
- N130 in Navotas
- E5 in Navotas
- N140 in Tondo, Manila
- N145 in Tondo and San Nicolas, Manila
- N150 in Ermita and Intramuros, Manila
- N155 in Ermita, Manila
- N156 in Ermita, Manila
- N140 in Malate, Manila
- N190 in Pasay
- N61 in Pasay. Route number change from N120 to N1.
- N170 in Pasay
- N171 (Aurora Boulevard) in Pasay
- N1 / N145 / E2 at Magallanes Interchange, Makati. Southern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Metro Manila.
- Visayas (western route) – part of N70
- N1 in Palo. Northern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Visayas.
- N681 in Capoocan
- N683 in Ormoc
- N684 in Ormoc
- N70 in Ormoc
- Mindanao – part of N10
- N1 in Davao City. Southern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Mindanao.
- N942 in Arakan
- N943 in Maramag
- N912 in Valencia
- N9 in Cagayan de Oro. Northern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Mindanao.
See also
Notes
- Partially signed as AH26
- The extent of E2/AH26 in Skyway is unknown since the DPWH's GIS apps does not show any route designation for the tollway. Despite this, some E2/AH26 markers were seen between Buendia, Makati and Alabang, Muntinlupa until they were dismantled together with the center barriers in 2020.
Alternative names
Pan-Philippine Highway also has alternative names, especially locally within the poblacion of respective town and cities.
- A segment of Manila North Road in Laoag is also known as and a part of Laoag–Paoay Road.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway in Laoag and Pagadian is locally known as J.P. Rizal Avenue, respectively.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway stretching north out of Laoag is known as Gen. Fidel V. Segundo Avenue.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway here is locally known as National Highway.
- A segment of Bangag-Magapit Road is also known as Logac-Magapit Road in Lal-lo, Cagayan.
- The segment of Maharlika Highway from Isabela to Bulacan is also known as Cagayan Valley Road.
- Pan-Philippine Highway is also known as Doña Remedios Trinidad Highway from San Rafael to Pulilan in Bulacan, bypassing the respective municipal centers of Baliuag and Bustos.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper is locally known as J.P. Rizal Street.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya is locally known as Aquino Avenue.
- The segments of Maharlika Highway from Calamba to Tayabas, in Pagbilao, and from Atimonan to Matnog are historically referred to as Manila South Road.[4][12]
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Tiaong, Quezon is locally known as Doña Tating Street and Don V. Robles Street, respectively.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper is locally known as Rizal Avenue.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Sariaya, Quezon is locally known as General Luna Street.
- Lucena Diversion Road is also known as MSR Diversion Road.
- The segment of Pan-Philippine Highway through the Quezon National Forest Park in Pagbilao and Atimonan, Quezon is also known as New Diversion Road or simply as Diversion Road.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway from the town proper of Milaor, Camarines Sur to Naga in Camarines Sur is locally known as Mabolo Road.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Pagbilao, Quezon is locally known as Recto Street.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Gumaca, Quezon is locally known as A. Bonifacio Street.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway in Naga, Camarines Sur is locally known as Roxas Avenue or Diversion Road.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the city proper of Sorsogon City is locally known as Rizal Street and Magsaysay Avenue, respectively
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the city proper of Calbayog, Samar is locally known as Jose D. Avelino Street or Senate President Jose Avelino Avenue.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the city proper of Catbalogan, Samar is locally known as Del Rosario Street, Curry Avenue, San Roque Street, and Rizal Avenue Extension, respectively.
- A segment of Davao-Cotabato Road in the vicinity of Panacan, Davao City is also known as Davao City-Panabo City Road.
- The segment of Davao-Cotabato Road from the Davao City proper to Talomo, Davao City partially covers and is also known as A. Pichon Street (a one-way street), Elpidio Quirino Avenue, and McArthur Highway, respectively.
- Digos-Makar Road is also known as Davao-GenSan National Highway
- A segment of Digos-Makar Road in General Santos is locally known as Jose Catolico Sr. Avenue.
- The segment of Marbel-Makar Road from General Santos to Polomolok, South Cotabato is also known as General Santos - Polomolok National Road, GenSan - Polomolok National Road, or Polomolok National Highway.
- The segment of Marbel-Makar Road in Polomolok (approaching Tupi, South Cotabato) is also known as Polomolok - Tupi National Highway.
- A segment of Marbel-Makar Road in the Koronadal city proper is locally known as Gensan Drive.
- Cotabato-Marbel Road is also known as Koronadal City - Cotabato City National Highway.
- The segment of Cotabato-Marbel Road from Banga to Surallah, South Cotabato is also known as Banga-Surallah Road.
- The segment of Cotabato-Marbel Road from Surallah, South Cotabato to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat is also known as Surallah-Isulan Road, signed under AH26.
- A segment of Cotabato-Marbel Road in the Koronadal city proper is locally known as Alunan Avenue.
- A segment of Isulan-Surallah Road in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat is locally known as Sen. Ninoy Aquino Avenue.
- A segment of Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road in the city proper of Cotabato City is locally known as Sinsuat Avenue.
- A segment of Cotabato–Lanao Road from Cotabato City to Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte is also known as Quezon Avenue.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway from Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte to Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur is also known as Narciso Ramos Highway.
- The segment of Pan-Philippine Highway from Malabang, Lanao del Sur to Tukuran, Lanao del Sur is also known as Malabang–Tukuran Road.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway, including Cotabato–Malabang–Lanao del Norte Road, between Tukuran, Lanao del Sur and Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur is also known as Tukuran–Pagadian Highway.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway between Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga City is also known as Lanao–Pagadian–Zamboanga City Road and Pagadian City–Zamboanga City Road, respectively.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway in Zamboanga City is locally known as Maria Clara L. Lobregat Highway, Veterans Avenue, Governor Lim Avenue, and Don Pablo Lorenzo Street, respectively.
- Mel Lopez Boulevard in Manila is known as Radial Road 10 or R-10 for partially being its component.
- Alternative name varies, according to its segments between towns/cities. For example, Palo–Carigara–Ormoc Road is also known as Palo–Santa Fe Road from Palo to Santa Fe, Leyte.
- A segment of Palo–Carigara–Ormoc Road at the city proper of Ormoc is locally known as Lilia Avenue, Apo Street, and Real Street, respectively.
- Sayre Highway from Valencia to Maramag and Bukidnon–Davao Road from Quezon to Kitaotao are also known as Dologon–Busco–Quezon Road.
- A segment of Bukidnon–Davao Road in Quezon, Bukidnon is locally known as J. A. Fortich Road.
- A segment of Sayre Highway at the city proper of Malaybalay is locally known as Fortich Street.
References
- "Department Order No. 15, series of 2009: Installation of Route Markers & Directional Signs along the Asian Highway - Route AH26 (Daang Maharlika)" (PDF). Department of Public Works and Highways. March 22, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- Cabral, Maria Catalina. "Asian Highway 26 (AH26)" (PDF). ESCAP. Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- Macapagal, Diosdado (January 25, 1965). Fourth State of the Nation Address (Speech).
- Southern Luzon Western Sheet (Map). 1:200000. Washington D.C.: US Geodetic Survey. 1941. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- 1944 Army Map Service Road Map of Northern Luzon, Philippines (Map). 1:1000000. Washington D.C.: Army Maps Service, Corps of Engineers. 1944. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- 1944 Army Map Service Road Map of the Central and Southern Philippines (Map). 1:1000000. Washington D.C.: Army Maps Service, Corps of Engineers. 1944. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- Presidential Proclamation No. 1902, s. 1979 (September 13, 1979). Changing the Name of the Pan-Philippine Highway into the Maharlika Highway. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- "Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway Rehabilitation Project (I) (II)" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- "Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway (Mindanao Section) Rehabilitation Project, Phase I and II" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- "What does AH26 road sign mean?". Rappler.com. November 17, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- "Road and Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- Republic Act No. 917 (June 20, 1953). Philippine Highway Act of 1953. Retrieved September 25, 2021.