Pan-Philippine Highway

The Pan-Philippine Highway, also known as the Maharlika Highway (Daang Maharlika; 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 3379.73 km 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.

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.

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 km 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. It is a mixture of old existing roads and new roads that would be eventually added to become part of the highway. 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.

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". Japan's assistance is applied only up to Carmen, Davao del Norte at the south, thus covering only about 2100 km or about 62% of the highway's entire length. 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. Despite its isolation, it can be linked internationally via ferry routes such as Laoag–China and Zamboanga–Malaysia.

Route description




AH26 officially runs along the following thoroughfares:


 * N1 (Philippines).svg N1: Laoag – Guiguinto
 * Manila North Road/Maharlika Highway: Laoag – Burgos – Aparri
 * Bangag-Magapit Road: Aparri – Lal-lo
 * Cagayan Valley Road: Lal-lo – Tuguegarao
 * Maharlika Highway: San Pablo – Ilagan – Santiago – Solano – Bayombong – San Jose City – Cabanatuan – Gapan – San Miguel – Baliuag – Pulilan – Guiguinto
 * E1 (Philippines).svg E1: Guiguinto – Quezon City
 * North Luzon Expressway: Santa Rita Interchange – Balintawak Interchange
 * N1 (Philippines).svg N1: Quezon City – Makati
 * EDSA (Eastern Route): Balintawak Interchange – Magallanes Interchange
 * E2 (Philippines).svg E2: Makati – Calamba
 * South Luzon Expressway: Magallanes Interchange – Calamba Exit
 * N1 (Philippines).svg N1: Calamba – Matnog
 * Maharlika Highway: Calamba – Santo Tomas – San Pablo – Tiaong – Candelaria – Sariaya – Tayabas
 * Lucena Diversion Road: Tayabas – Lucena – Pagbilao
 * Maharlika Highway: Pagbilao – Gumaca – Calauag – Daet – Milaor – Naga City – Daraga – Sorsogon City – Matnog
 * Gap (San Bernardino Strait)
 * Ferry Sign.svg Matnog–Allen ferry line: Luzon – Visayas
 * N1 (Philippines).svg N1: Allen – Calbayog – Catbalogan – Tacloban – Palo – Mahaplag – Liloan


 * Gap (Bohol Sea)
 * Ferry Sign.svg Liloan–Lipata ferry line: Visayas – Mindanao
 * N1 (Philippines).svg 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
 * J.P. Laurel Avenue: Davao City
 * C.M. Recto Avenue: Davao City (one-way street)
 * Davao–Cotabato Road: Davao City – Digos
 * Digos-Makar Road: Digos – Malungon – General Santos
 * Marbel-Makar Road: General Santos – Polomolok – Koronadal
 * Cotabato-Marbel Road: Koronadal – Banga – Surallah – Norala
 * Isulan-Surallah Road: Isulan
 * Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road: Isulan – Cotabato City
 * Cotabato-Lanao Road: Cotabato City – Matanog
 * Cotabato–Malabang–Lanao del Norte Road: Sultan Dumalondong – Picong
 * Malabang–Dobleston–Tukuran Road: Sultan Naga Dimaporo
 * Tucuran Junction–Karomatan Junction Road: Tukuran
 * Maharlika Highway: Tukuran – Pagadian– Ipil – Tungawan – Zamboanga City

Auxiliary Routes
Alternatively, AH26 runs along the following thoroughfares:
 * Luzon (West Metro Manila)
 * N1 (Philippines).svg N1: Quezon City – Caloocan
 * EDSA (Western Route): Balintawak Interchange – Monumento
 * N120 (Philippines).svg N120: Caloocan – Pasay
 * Samson Road: Caloocan
 * Gen. San Miguel Street: Caloocan
 * C-4 Road: Caloocan – Malabon – Navotas
 * R-10: Navotas
 * Mel Lopez Boulevard: Manila
 * Bonifacio Drive: Manila
 * Roxas Boulevard: Manila – Pasay
 * N1 (Philippines).svg N1: Pasay – Makati
 * EDSA (Western Route): Roxas Boulevard – Magallanes Interchange


 * Luzon (South Skyway)
 * E2 (Philippines).svg E2: Makati – Muntinlupa
 * Skyway: Makati – Muntinlupa


 * Visayas
 * N70 (Philippines).svg N70: Palo – Ormoc


 * Gap (Camotes Sea)
 * Ferry Sign.svg Ormoc–Cebu ferry line


 * Mindanao
 * N10 (Philippines).svg N10: Davao City – Cagayan de Oro
 * Bukidnon–Davao Road: Davao City – Quezon – Maramag
 * Sayre Highway: Maramag – Malaybalay – Cagayan de Oro
 * N9 (Philippines).svg N9: Cagayan de Oro

Intersections

 * Ilocos Norte
 * in Bacarra


 * Cagayan
 * in Abulug
 * in Abulug
 * at Magapit Interchange, Lal-lo
 * in Tuguegarao
 * in Tuguegarao
 * in Tuguegarao
 * in Tuguegarao


 * Isabela
 * in Cabagan
 * in Cauayan
 * in Santiago
 * in Cordon


 * Nueva Vizcaya
 * in Bagabag
 * in Aritao


 * Nueva Ecija
 * in San Jose
 * in Santo Domingo
 * in Cabanatuan
 * in Santa Rosa
 * in Gapan


 * Bulacan
 * in San Rafael
 * in Pulilan
 * in Plaridel
 * in Santa Rita, Guiguinto. Route number change from N1 to E1.
 * in Balagtas
 * in Balagtas
 * in Meycauayan


 * Metro Manila
 * in Valenzuela
 * at Harbor Link Interchange, Valenzuela
 * in Unang Sigaw, Quezon City
 * at Balintawak Interchange, Quezon City. Route number change from E1 to N1.
 * in Unang Sigaw, Quezon City
 * in Muñoz, Quezon City
 * in Diliman, Quezon City
 * in Diliman, Quezon City
 * in Diliman, Quezon City
 * in Cubao, Quezon City
 * near Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
 * at Ortigas Interchange in Quezon City and Mandaluyong
 * in Mandaluyong
 * in Makati
 * in Makati
 * in Makati
 * at Magallanes Interchange, Makati. Route number change from N1 to E2.


 * in Taguig
 * in Taguig
 * in Parañaque and Muntinlupa
 * in Alabang, Muntinlupa
 * in Muntinlupa


 * Cavite
 * in Carmona


 * Laguna (Biñan–Calamba)
 * in Biñan
 * in Santa Rosa
 * in Calamba. Route number change from E2 to N1.


 * Batangas
 * in Santo Tomas
 * in Santo Tomas


 * Laguna (Alaminos–San Pablo)
 * in San Pablo (two southern termini)


 * Quezon
 * in Tiaong (northern terminus)
 * in Tiaong
 * in Tiaong (southern terminus)
 * in Candelaria (western & eastern termini)
 * in Sariaya
 * in Isabang, Tayabas
 * in Isabang, Lucena
 * in Gulang-Gulang, Lucena
 * in Talipan, Pagbilao
 * in Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao
 * in Gumaca
 * in Lopez
 * in Lopez


 * Camarines Norte
 * in Santa Elena
 * in Labo
 * in Daet (northern & southern termini)


 * Camarines Sur
 * in Sipocot
 * in Pamplona
 * in Pili
 * in Pili
 * in Pili
 * in Baao
 * in Nabua
 * in Bato


 * Albay
 * in Polangui (two northern termini)
 * in Ligao
 * in Ligao
 * in Daraga


 * Sorsogon
 * in Pilar
 * in Castilla
 * in Sorsogon City (western terminus)
 * in Sorsogon City
 * in Sorsogon City (eastern terminus)
 * in Bulan


 * Northern Samar
 * in Allen


 * Samar
 * in Calbayog
 * in Calbayog
 * in Gandara (northern & southern termini)
 * in Catbalogan
 * in Paranas
 * in Basey
 * in Santa Rita


 * Samar–Leyte boundary
 * San Juanico Bridge


 * Leyte
 * in Tacloban
 * in Tacloban
 * in Palo
 * in Palo
 * in Abuyog
 * in Mahaplag


 * Southern Leyte
 * in Sogod
 * in Liloan
 * in Liloan


 * Surigao del Norte
 * in Surigao City
 * in Placer


 * Agusan del Norte
 * in Butuan


 * Agusan del Sur
 * in Prosperidad
 * in Prosperidad
 * in San Francisco
 * in Trento


 * Davao de Oro
 * in Montevista
 * in Nabunturan


 * Davao del Norte
 * in Tagum (northern terminus)
 * in Tagum
 * in Tagum (southern terminus)
 * in Carmen
 * in Panabo


 * Davao del Sur
 * in Buhawan, Davao City (eastern terminus)
 * in Buhangin, Davao City
 * in Agdao, Davao City (eastern terminus)
 * in Agdao, Davao City
 * in Agdao & Buhangin, Davao City
 * in Poblacion, Davao City
 * in Poblacion, Davao City
 * in Poblacion, Davao City
 * in Talomo, Davao City
 * in Talomo, Davao City (western terminus)
 * in Talomo, Davao City (western terminus)
 * in Talomo, Davao City
 * in Digos (northern terminus)
 * in Digos
 * in Digos
 * in Digos (southern terminus)
 * in Sulop


 * South Cotabato
 * in General Santos (eastern terminus)
 * in General Santos
 * in General Santos
 * in General Santos


 * Sultan Kudarat
 * in Tacurong
 * in Isulan
 * in Esperanza


 * Maguindanao del Sur
 * in Datu Saudi Ampatuan


 * Maguindanao del Norte
 * in Sultan Kudarat
 * in Datu Odin Sinsuat
 * in Datu Odin Sinsuat


 * Lanao del Sur
 * in Malabang


 * Zamboanga del Sur
 * in Tukuran


 * Zamboanga Sibugay
 * in Ipil


 * Zamboanga City
 * . Southern terminus of AH26.
 * . Southern terminus of AH26.
 * . Southern terminus of AH26.

Auxiliary routes

 * Metro Manila (western route) – part of and
 * in Balintawak, Quezon City. Northern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Metro Manila.
 * in Caloocan. Route number change from N1 to N120.
 * in Navotas
 * in Navotas
 * in Tondo, Manila
 * in Tondo and San Nicolas, Manila
 * in Ermita and Intramuros, Manila
 * in Ermita, Manila
 * in Ermita, Manila
 * in Malate, Manila
 * in Pasay
 * in Pasay. Route number change from N120 to N1.
 * in Pasay
 * in Pasay
 * at Magallanes Interchange, Makati. Southern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Metro Manila.


 * Visayas (western route) – part of
 * in Palo. Northern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Visayas.
 * in Capoocan
 * in Ormoc
 * in Ormoc
 * in Ormoc


 * Mindanao – part of and
 * in Davao City. Southern terminus of AH26 auxiliary route in Mindanao.
 * in Arakan
 * in Maramag
 * in Valencia
 * in Cagayan de Oro
 * in Cagayan de Oro

Alternative names
Pan-Philippine Highway also has alternative names, especially locally within the poblacion of respective town and cities.