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 road 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]
The northern terminus of the highway is in front of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol in Laoag and the southern terminus is at the southern end of N1 near the Zamboanga City Hall in Zamboanga City.[1][3]
The Pan-Philippine Highway System was an infrastructure program of PresidentDiosdado 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, which continued into the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos. This included the construction of 11,333 bridges, comprising the entire system.[4] It is a mixture of old existing roads and new roads that would be eventually added to become part of the highway.[5][6][7] 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.[8]
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".[9] 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.[10] In 1998, the Department of Tourism designated 35 sections of the highway as "Scenic Highways", with developed amenities for travelers and tourists.
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. Despite its isolation, it can be linked internationally via ferry routes such as Laoag–China and Zamboanga–Malaysia.[3]
The intersection of Doña Remedios Trinidad Highway (AH26) and Pulilan Regional Road (N115) in Pulilan.The intersection of Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26), Governor Padilla Street (N116) and General Alejo Santos Highway in Plaridel.
^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.
^The northern end of the AH26 auxiliary route in Mindanao is at Marcos Bridge in Cagayan de Oro.[3]
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.
^ abA 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.
^ abcdA 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 RafaeltoPulilan in Bulacan, bypassing the respective municipal centers of Baliuag and Bustos.
^ abcA 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.
^ abThe segments of Maharlika Highway from Calamba to Tayabas, in Pagbilao, and from Atimonan to Matnog are historically referred to as Manila South Road.[5][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.
^ abcA 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.
^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 SantostoPolomolok, 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.
^ abA 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 PalotoSanta 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.
N1: Laoag – Guiguinto
E1: Guiguinto – Quezon City
E2: Makati – Calamba
N120: Caloocan – Pasay
N223inAbulug
N121 in Abulug
N101 / N119 at Magapit Interchange, Lal-lo
N104inTuguegarao
N105 in Tuguegarao
N51 / N106 in Tuguegarao
N56 / N111inSan Jose
N114inSanto Domingo
N58inSanta Rosa
N3inGapan
N247inSan Rafael
N115inPulilan
E1 / N1 in Santa Rita, Guiguinto. Route number change from N1 to E1.
N117inMeycauayan
N118inValenzuela
E5atHarbor Link Interchange, Valenzuela
N127 in Unang Sigaw, Quezon City
N1 / N160atBalintawak Interchange, Quezon City. Route number change from E1 to N1.
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 / N60atOrtigas Interchange in Quezon City and Mandaluyong
N141 in Mandaluyong
N190 (Kalayaan Avenue) in Makati
N191 in Makati
N1 / N145atMagallanes Interchange, Makati. Route number change from N1 to E2.
N11 in Taguig
N63inParañaque and Muntinlupa
E2 in Muntinlupa
N4 in Santo Tomas
N608inTiaong (northern terminus)
N435 in Tiaong
N609inCandelaria (western & eastern termini)
N606inSariaya
N422 in Isabang, Lucena
N603 in Gulang-Gulang, Lucena
N610 in Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao
N613inGumaca
N612inLopez
N657 in Lopez
N642inPilar
N641inCastilla
N643inSorsogon City (western terminus)
N645inBulan
N670 in Allen
N672inCalbayog
N673 in Calbayog
N677inGandara (northern & southern termini)
N674inParanas
N903inProsperidad
N904 in Prosperidad
N905inSan Francisco
N904 / N73inTrento
N908inTagum (northern terminus)
N909 / N74 in Tagum
N910inCarmen
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
N921 in Talomo, Davao City
N10 in Talomo, Davao City
N923inDigos (northern terminus)
N75 in Digos
N924 in Digos
N930inSulop
N931inGeneral Santos (eastern terminus)
N935 in General Santos
N120
N1 / N150inCaloocan. Route number change from N1 to N120.
N130inNavotas
N140inTondo, Manila
N155 in Ermita, Manila
N156 in Ermita, Manila
N61 in Pasay. Route number change from N120 to N1.
N70
N681inCapoocan
N684 in Ormoc
N9
N942inArakan
N943inMaramag
N912inValencia
N946inCagayan de Oro
