Pan-Philippine Highway
The Pan-Philippine Highway, also known as the Maharlika Highway (Tagalog: Daang Maharlika; Cebuano: Dalang Halangdon) is a 3,517-kilometer (2,185 mi) 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. It is the longest highway in the Philippines that forms the country's north–south backbone component of the 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]
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![]() Map of the Philippines showing the route of Pan-Philippine Highway | ||||
![]() The segment of the highway in Santo Tomas, Batangas | ||||
Route information | ||||
Maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) | ||||
Length | 3,517 km[1] (2,185 mi) | |||
Existed | 1960s–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
North end | Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines | |||
South end | Zamboanga City, Philippines | |||
Location | ||||
Provinces |
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Highway system | ||||
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The northern terminus of the highway is in Laoag and the southern terminus is in Zamboanga City.[1]
Development
The highway was proposed in 1965, and built under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos. 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 was supported by loans and grants from foreign aid institutions, including the World Bank.
The highway was rehabilitated and improved in 1997, during the administration of President Fidel Ramos, with assistance from the Japanese government, and dubbed the "Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway". In 1998, the Department of Tourism designated 35 sections of the highway as "Scenic Highways", with developed amenities for travelers and tourists.
In March 2018, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar inaugurated the 24.61-kilometer (15.29 mi) arterial road that will link the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) with the Maharlika Highway that traverses the central part of Luzon.[2]
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. 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.
Associated Routes
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AH26 runs along the following thoroughfares:[3]
Manila North Road/Maharlika Highway: Laoag[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] – Aparri
Bangag-Magapit Road: Aparri – Lal-lo[lower-alpha 3]
Cagayan Valley Road: Lal-lo – Tuguegarao
Maharlika Highway:[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] San Pablo – Ilagan – Santiago – Solano[lower-alpha 6] – Bayombong – San Jose City – Cabanatuan – Gapan – San Miguel – Baliuag – Pulilan – Guiguinto
North Luzon Expressway: Santa Rita Interchange, Guiguinto – Balintawak Interchange, Quezon City (partially signed as AH26)
EDSA (Eastern Route): Balintawak Interchange, Quezon City – Magallanes Interchange, Makati (around Metro Manila)
South Luzon Expressway: Magallanes Interchange, Makati – Calamba Exit, Calamba (partially signed as AH26)
Maharlika Highway: Calamba – Santo Tomas – San Pablo – Tiaong[lower-alpha 7] – Candelaria[lower-alpha 8] – Sariaya[lower-alpha 9] – Lucena
Lucena Diversion Road: Lucena – Pagbilao
Maharlika Highway: Pagbilao[lower-alpha 10] – Gumaca[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 11] - Calauag[lower-alpha 12] – Daet – Milaor[lower-alpha 13] – Naga City[lower-alpha 14] – Daraga – Sorsogon City[lower-alpha 15] – Matnog
Matnog–Allen ferry line: Luzon – Visayas (via San Bernardino Strait)
Maharlika Highway: Allen – Calbayog[lower-alpha 16] – Catbalogan[lower-alpha 17] – Tacloban – Palo – Mahaplag – Liloan
Liloan–Lipata ferry line: Visayas – Mindanao (via Bohol Sea)
Maharlika Highway: Surigao City – Kitcharao
Surigao-Butuan National Highway: Kitcharao – Butuan
Davao-Agusan National Highway: Butuan – Bayugan – Tagum – Davao City[lower-alpha 18]
C.M. Recto Avenue: Davao City (one-way street)
A. Pichon Street: Davao City (one-way street)
Elpidio Quirino Avenue: Davao City
MacArthur Highway: Davao City
Davao-Cotabato Road: Davao City – Digos
Digos-Makar Road: Digos[lower-alpha 8] – Malungon – General Santos
Marbel-Makar Road: General Santos – Koronadal
Cotabato-Marbel Road: Koronadal – Surallah
Isulan-Surallah Road: Surallah – Norala
- Isulan-Surallah Road: Isulan[lower-alpha 19]
- Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road: Isulan – Datu Odin Sinsuat
Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road: Cotabato City[lower-alpha 20]
- Narciso Ramos Highway: Sultan Kudarat – Parang – Balabagan
Rizal Avenue: Balabagan – Malabang – Picong
Maharlika Highway: Sultan Naga Dimaporo – Tukuran[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 21] – Pagadian[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 21] – Ipil – Tungawan – Zamboanga City[lower-alpha 22]
Auxiliary Routes

Alternatively, AH26 runs along the following thoroughfares:[3]
- Luzon
EDSA (Western Route): Balintawak Interchange, Quezon City – Caloocan
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
EDSA (Western Route): Pasay – Magallanes Interchange, Makati
- Visayas
Palo–Carigara–Ormoc Road:[lower-alpha 23] Palo – Ormoc[lower-alpha 24]
Ormoc–Baybay–Southern Leyte Boundary Road:[lower-alpha 23] Ormoc – Albuera[lower-alpha 25] – Baybay[lower-alpha 26]
Tacloban–Baybay South Road: Baybay – Mahaplag
- Mindanao
Intersections

- Ilocos Norte
N2 in Laoag (northern terminus of AH26)
- Patapat Viaduct
- Cagayan
N223 in Abulug
- Magapit Suspension Bridge
N101 / N119 in 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
N113 in Santo Domingo
N114 in Santo Domingo
N111 in Cabanatuan
N58 in Santa Rosa
N3 in Gapan
- Bulacan


- Metro Manila
N118 in Valenzuela
E5 in Valenzuela
N127 in Unang Sigaw, Quezon City
N1 / N160 in Balintawak, Quezon City
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 in Quezon City and Mandaluyong
N141 in Mandaluyong
- Guadalupe Bridge
N190 in Makati
N191 in Makati
N190 in Makati
N1 / N145 in Magallanes, Makati
E6 in Taguig
N11 in Taguig
N63 in Parañaque and Muntinlupa
N1 in Alabang, Muntinlupa
E2 in Tunasan, Muntinlupa
- Cavite
- Laguna (2nd segment)
N420 in Santa Rosa
E2 / N1 in Calamba
- 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 Isabang, Lucena
N422 in Isabang, Lucena
N603 in Gulang-Gulang, Lucena
N606 in Talipan, Pagbilao
N610 in Padre Burgos
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
- Agas-Agas Bridge
N692 in Sogod
N690 in Liloan
N691 in Liloan
- Wawa Bridge
- 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
- Lanao del Sur
- Zamboanga del Sur
- Zamboanga Sibugay
- Zamboanga City
N968
N966 / N970 / N971 (southern terminus of AH26)
Auxiliary routes
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N1 / N160 in Balintawak, Quezon City
N1 / N150 in Caloocan
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
N170 in Pasay
N171 in Pasay
N145 / E2 in Magallanes, Makati
- Visayas (western route) – part of
N70
- Mindanao – part of
N10
N1 in Davao City
N942 in Arakan
N943 in Maramag
N912 in Valencia
N9 in Cagayan de Oro
See also
Notes
Pan-Philippine Highway also has alternative names, especially locally within the poblacion of respective town and cities.
- 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. Segundo Avenue.
- 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 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.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Pagbilao, Quezon is locally known as Recto Street and Figueroa Street, respectively.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Gumaca, Quezon is locally known as Bonifacio Street.
- An alternative route to Pan-Philippine Highway is the Highway 68 or Quirino Highway that will bypass Camarines Norte entirely and will shorten the route by four hours.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the town proper of Milaor, Camarines Sur is locally known as Mabolo Road.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway at the city proper of Naga, Camarines Sur is locally known as Roxas Avenue.
- 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.
- 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.
- The segment of Davao-Agusan National Highway from Lanang towards the city proper of Davao City is also known as J.P. Laurel Avenue.
- A segment of Isulan-Surallah Road in Isulan is locally known as Sen. Ninoy Aquino Avenue.
- A segment of Marbel-Allah Valley-Cotabato Road at the city proper of Cotabato City is locally known as Sinsuat Avenue and Quezon Avenue, respectively.
- A segment of Pan-Philippine Highway here is locally known as National Highway.
- 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.
- 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 town proper of Ormoc is locally known as Real Street and Aviles Street, respectively.
- Ormoc–Baybay–Southern Leyte Boundary Road at the town proper of Albuera, Leyte is locally known as Lawis Street and Rizal Street, respectively.
- A segment of Ormoc–Baybay–Southern Leyte Boundary Road at the town proper of Baybay, Leyte is locally known as Apolinario Mabini Street and Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, respectively.
References
- "Department Order No. 15, Series of 2009" (PDF). Department of Public Works and Highways. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
- "North Luzon expressway, Maharlika highway linked". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- "Road and Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pan-Philippine Highway. |
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Asian Highway 26. |