National Route 1 (N1) is a primary national route that forms part of thePhilippine highway network, running from Luzon to Mindanao. Except for a 19-kilometer (12 mi) gap inMetro Manila and ferry connections, the highway is generally continuous. Most sections of N1 forms thePan-Philippine Highway except for sections bypassed by expressways.[1]
N1 follows a route that runs fromLaoag inIlocos Norte toZamboanga City viaBicol Region,Eastern Visayas and eastern and southern parts ofMindanao. The highway connects most major regional centers on its route and runs through different landscapes. The highway is mostly namedMaharlika Highway orNational Highway, but other sections use different names, including alternative names assumed within somepoblacions (city or town proper).[1]
N1 begins at the intersection with N2 (Manila North Road) and N100 (Laoag Airport Road) inLaoag asManila North Road (MaNor). It then crosses Padsan River via Gilbert Bridge and enters the city proper of Laoag, where it splits before turning to the east in front of Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, where thePan-Philippine Highway commences. It then briefly followsJ.P. Rizal Avenue before turning toGeneral Segundo Avenue; both are principal city streets passing through the city proper and through its outskirts. ApproachingBacarra, it becomes a rural highway. At Bacarra, it bypasses the town center to the north and runs through a rural area, and then entersPasuquin, where it serves as a major municipal street. Between Bacarra andBurgos, it becomes a rural two-lane highway and passes through interspersed barangays along theSouth China Sea coastline. It soon climbs the mountains upon approach to Burgos, where the highway directly serves the town. The highway zigzags through the rough terrain and overlooks the beach whereBangui Wind Farm lies. It then passes throughBangui, where it runs as a major street on the town center, crosses Bulu River, and entersPagudpud, where it bypasses the town proper. N1 runs through the foothills that mark the edge of theCordillera Central mountain range and runs close to the coastline ofBashi Channel, where the highway zigzags through the cliffs through thePatapat Viaduct, a 630-meter (0.39 mi) viaduct that is required for the highway to pass the steep cliffs marking the northern edge of theCordillera Range.
| Location | Aparri –Lal-lo,Cagayan |
|---|---|
| Length | 28.84 km[2][3] (17.92 mi) |
Entering theCagayan Valley region, N1 follows Manila North Road up to barangay Bangag,Aparri. From there, it turns south and becomesBangag-Magapit Road up to the Magapit Interchange inLal-lo. Within Lal-lo, N1 is also known asLogac–Magapit Road between namesake barangays Logac and Magpit. The segment includes theMagapit Suspension Bridge, which spans over theCagayan River before meeting the Magapit Interchange.
At the interchange, it turns southeast and becomesCagayan Valley Road from Magapit, Lal-lo toTuguegarao, running parallel to the Cagayan River. In Tuguegarao, N1 turns east at the roundabout intersection with N106 (Tuguegarao Diversion Road) and N51 (Santiago–Tuguegarao Road) to bypass the city proper towardsPeñablanca and run parallel to theCagayan River up toReina Mercedes, Isabela. It then enters the province ofIsabela andNueva Vizcaya asMaharlika Highway, although it is alternatively called Cagayan Valley Road up toGuiguinto,Bulacan. It serves as the main artery of Isabela alongside N51. InSantiago, Isabela, it turns southwest at the Mabini Rotonda, its intersection with N51, and becomes a one-way northbound route. Southbound traffic is redirected via R.C. Miranda Road and Boulevard to bypass this one-way section.
At Nueva Vizcaya, N1 runs parallel to and crosses the Magat River. InSolano, it navigates through thepoblacion locally asJ. Manzano Street, cutting through asJ.P. Rizal Avenue, and finally exiting asAquino Avenue towards its segment bypassingBayombongpoblacion. Further inSanta Fe, it then reaches theDalton Pass, whereSierra Madre andCaraballo Sur meet.
Although Cagayan Valley Road is limited to Cagayan, its name also alternatively extends up to N1's section inBulacan.
The highway soon entersNueva Ecija atCarranglan. It then descends to theplain terrain inSan Jose as it approaches thepoblacion. It then cuts throughMuñoz andTalavera before turning east by its junction with N114 (Nueva Ecija–Pangasinan Road) inSanto Domingo. It then cuts through Talavera (once again, this time with thepoblacion),Cabanatuan,Santa Rosa,San Leonardo andGapan.
| DRT Highway | |
| Location | San Rafael –Pulilan,Bulacan |
N1 soon entersBulacan atSan Miguel, where it begins on a straight route. It then enters thepoblacion of San Miguel, which it bypasses, and the highway begins to curve through most of its length betweenSan Ildefonso andSan Rafael, where the route runs through rice paddies. At its intersection with San Rafael Municipal Road, the highway curves to the southwest to followDoña Remedios Trinidad Highway (DRT Highway) until the intersection of the old Cagayan Valley Road and Esguerra Street inPulilan. DRT Highway serves as a bypass of the old Cagayan Valley Road throughBaliwagpoblacion. At Guiguinto, it crosses theNorth Luzon Expressway (NLEX) along with the Santa Rita Interchange, whereAsian Highway 26 leaves for the expressway. It soon crosses the original route of NLEX at Tabang Interchange.

Past Tabang Interchange, N1 begins to follow Manila North Road once again, this time asMacArthur Highway, which serves as a major toll-free highway over southern Bulacan. It soon crosses thePhilippine National Railways right of way and entersBalagtas, where it directly passes through itspoblacion. It soon crosses the Bigaa River, where it passes through residential and industrial areas, and curves upon enteringBocaue, where it bypasses the town center. A flyover restricted for use by light vehicles crossesFortunato Halili Avenue toSanta Maria with service roads serving as frontage and heavy vehicle routes. The highway then curves and traverses through the residential barangays of Bocaue and soon entersMarilao andMeycauayan.

Entering Metro Manila, the highway follows MacArthur Highway overValenzuela, which runs on a four to six-lane highway up to theBonifacio Monument (Monumento) Circle inCaloocan. There, the Asian Highway 26 concurrency returns on N1 as it turns east to followEpifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) up toPasay. The whole road, bypassing the capital city ofManila, is notorious for congestion which causes delays, as well as economic losses in the metropolis. EDSA runs through the central business districts of Metro Manila, most notablyAraneta Center,Ortigas Center, andMakati Central Business District. TheLRT Line 1 andMRT Line 3 utilizes the center island of EDSA on most segments between Caloocan and Pasay. N1 ends below the EDSA Flyover at N120/AH26/N61 (Roxas Boulevard) in Pasay.
A 19-kilometer (12 mi) gap in the highway is filled by theSouth Luzon Expressway (SLEX) andSkyway betweenMakati andMuntinlupa. It would have been filled byTaft Avenue Extension, starting from EDSA, going southwards viaQuirino andDiego Cera Avenues and ends at Manila South Road below Alabang Viaduct through Alabang–Zapote Road.
| National Road Old National Road Maharlika Highway | |
| Location | Muntinlupa –Calamba, Laguna |
| Length | 30.36 km[4][5] (18.86 mi) |
N1 resumes below the Alabang Viaduct ofSouth Luzon Expressway (SLEX/E2/AH26) inAlabang,Muntinlupa, where it intersects with SLEX's Alabang Exit, East Service Road, N411 (Alabang–Zapote Road), and N142 (Montillano Street). The highway assumes the nameMaharlika Highway,Manila South Road, or locally,National Road orOld National Road. It runs as a commercial artery through the city up to the boundary withLaguna inSan Pedro over theTunasan River. However, this section does not assume the Asian Highway 26 concurrency, which is designated instead to SLEX.

N1 generally serves as a four-lane toll-free highway serving the suburban cities of northwestern Laguna alongside the tolledSouth Luzon Expressway. Most sections of N1 betweenSan Pedro andCalamba serve as commercial streets bypassing the oldpoblacions. Most of N1 is four-lane with a painted median divider.
It enters Laguna in San Pedro, where it serves as a major commercial street, with a maximum of four lanes. It then enters the cities ofBiñan,Santa Rosa,Cabuyao, and Calamba, where it turns southwest past its intersection with N66 (Calamba–Pagsanjan Road) at the Calamba Crossing. In barangayReal, the highway is alternatively known asReal Road.

N1 soon crosses the South Luzon Expressway at the Calamba Exit, where the concurrency with theAsian Highway 26 returns on the highway, and passes through several western barangays in Calamba. It then enters the province ofBatangas inSanto Tomas, where it intersects withSTAR Tollway and bypasses thepoblacion. At the Santo Tomas Roundabout, where it meets N4 (Jose P. Laurel Highway) and Governor Carpio Avenue, it turns southeast as it leaves the province. It then re-enters the province of Laguna throughAlaminos and thenSan Pablo, bypassing itspoblacion.
N1 then enters the province ofQuezon atTiaong. There, it passes theVilla Escudero plantations and the site of the future Tiaong Interchange of SLEX Toll Road 4, then cuts through thepoblacion asDoña Tating Street and then veers east asDon V. Robles Street. It then traverses the municipalities ofCandelaria (asRizal Avenue through thepoblacion) andSariaya (asGeneral Luna Street through thepoblacion) and the city ofTayabas, where it turns southeast towardsLucena at the Calumpang Junction.
| MSR Diversion Road | |
| Location | Tayabas –Pagbilao,Quezon |
| Length | 9.87 km[6][7][8] (6.13 mi) |

From Tayabas through Lucena, N1 then follows the entireLucena Diversion Road (also known asMSR Diversion Road),[6][7][8] a wide road that bypasses the Old Manila South Road alignment, which cuts through Lucenapoblacion, up to the road's eastern end inPagbilao.
InPagbilaopoblacion, N1 briefly splits intoMSR Diversion Road (collective name for the segment locally known asC.M. Recto Street andPornobi Street, respectively) for westbound traffic andJ.P. Rizal Street for eastbound traffic. Onto the area of the protectedQuezon National Forest Park in theSierra Madre, it then becomes alternatively known asNew Diversion Road, the longer road bypassing the Old Zigzag Road alignment cutting through the park.
The route entersAtimonan, bypassing thepoblacion before reaching Quezon’s eastern coastline. It then continues throughPlaridel and thenGumaca, where it becomesJ.P. Rizal Street in thepoblacion south of the Gumaca River, then shifts eastward asA. Bonifacio Street toward Lopez. WithinLopezpoblacion, it is known asGeneral Vera Avenue before traversingCalauag.

N1 enters Camarines Norte at the municipality ofSanta Elena, meeting the N68 (Andaya Highway) that serves as a southern bypass of N1 which traverses the sparsely populated province of Camarines Norte. After traveling through kilometers of jungle, N1 navigates through thepoblacion ofLabo. It then becomes a rural highway again, passing by the municipalities ofVinzons andTalisay before bypassingDaet. It passes throughBicol Natural Park where the road winds through mountainous and hilly terrain. N1 entersCamarines Sur at the municipality ofSipocot, where it meets again N68 at its eastern end.

From Sipocot, N1 traverses the municipalities ofLibmanan,Pamplona,San Fernando, andMilaor (where it is alternatively known as Mabolo Road) inCamarines Sur before entering the City ofNaga. N1 enters Naga, bypassing itspoblacion asRoxas Avenue orDiversion Road before turning east at the Naga Rotonda to follow Maharlika Highway to enterPili, the provincial capital. It then traverses the municipalities ofBula,Baao,Nabua, andBato.
N1 enters the province ofAlbay atPolangui and traverses south of theMayon Volcano. AtDaragapoblacion, N1 turns sharply to the west fromRizal Street as it intersects with N630 (Rizal Avenue), which provides access toLegazpi City, and becomes a zigzag road as it leaves the province.
N1 enters the province ofSorsogon atPilar. It then entersSorsogon City, where it cuts through thepoblacion asRizal Street andMagsaysay Street, respectively. It turns east and continues it course north and east ofSorsogon Bay, traversing the municipalities ofCasiguran andJuban. It then traverses west ofMount Bulusan and enters the towns ofIrosin andMatnog, where its Luzon section ends at the Port of Matnog. Motorists can board a ferry to eitherAllen orSan Isidro inNorthern Samar at the port.

The Visayas section of N1 begins at the intersection with N670 (Allen–Catarman Road / Allen Diversion Road) and Allen Old Road inAllen,Northern Samar, just south of the Port of Allen. It runs mostly along the western coast ofSamar Island, particularly the provinces of Northern Samar andSamar and notably through the cities ofCalbayog andCatbalogan. Through the Calbayogpoblacion west of the Calbayog River, it is also known asJose D. Avelino Street orSenate President Jose Avelino Avenue. In thepoblacion ofSanta Margarita, Samar, it briefly becomes a one-way southbound road as northbound traffic is diverted to the Santa Margarita Old Route, which covers short segments of Ramon Calagos and Barrantes Streets. It then climbs a mountainous terrain as it approachesGandara, where it straddles along the Gandara River and Tan-Correche Creek. It then enters the landlocked town ofSan Jorge and returns to the western coast of Samar atTarangnan. Further south in Catbalogan, it traverses through thepoblacion along local streets such asDel Rosario Street (where it briefly splits at the junction with Mabini Avenue, in front ofSaint Mary's College of Catbalogan),Curry Avenue,San Roque Street, andRizal Avenue Extension. InPinabacdao, it climbs another mountainous terrain into the island and turns west at its intersection with N670 (Dolongan–Basey Road) inBasey. It then leaves the island ofSamar and crosses theSan Bernardino Strait through theSan Juanico Bridge.

Past the San Juanico Bridge, N1 enters the province ofLeyte atTacloban, straddling near the eastern coast ofLeyte Island. At the roundabout intersection with Naga-naga–Anibong Road, the highway traverses the southbound lane, bypassing thepoblacion. It then entersPalo and turns southwest at the intersection with N686 (Tacloban–Baybay South Road / Government Center Road Network), where a monument to an unknown soldier is located. From this point, the road takes on the nameTacloban–Baybay South Road as it proceeds to the Palopoblacion. At its intersection withN70/AH26 (Palo–Santa Fe Road / San Salvador Street) at the vicinity of thePalo Cathedral, it then turns southeast to other towns at the eastern coast of Leyte. AtAbuyog, it veers west and climbs the Leyte Cordillera mountain range. It entersMahaplag, where the Tacloban–Baybay South Road diverges from the highway at the Mahaplag Triangle to continue toward the intersecting N70/AH26. It entersSouthern Leyte atSogod, whereAgas-Agas Bridge is located, and descends the mountain range. It then follows the eastern coastline ofSogod Bay and enters the towns ofLibagon andLiloan.
In Liloan, N1 crosses the Panaon Strait through the Wawa Bridge and entersPanaon Island. There, its Visayas section ends at its intersection with N691 and the road serving the Port of Liloan, where motorists can board a ferry toSurigao City.
| Location | Butuan –Davao City |
|---|---|
The Mindanao section of N1 starts at the Port of Lipata inSurigao City. It then turns south at its intersection with Surigao Wharf Road, also in Surigao City, to run parallel to the Surigao River. It entersAgusan del Norte and takes up the sectionSurigao–Butuan National Highway fromKitcharao to Ampayon,Butuan, where it turns southeast at its intersection withButuan–Cagayan de Oro–Iligan Road (N9) to assume the nameDavao–Agusan National Highway from thereon. It then entersAgusan del Sur, where it traverses near theAgusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary.
| Location | Digos –General Santos |
|---|---|
| Length | 91.78 km[9][10][11] (57.03 mi) |


N1 entersDavao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) atMonkayo and goes through mountainous terrain as it heads south towardsTagum inDavao del Norte. At the boundary of Tagum andCarmen, Davao del Norte, the highway briefly splits into two as it crosses the Libuganon River.
It entersPanabo andDavao City, where it is also known as Davao City-Panabo City Road and turns west at its intersection withN916 (R. Castillo Street) in Lanang asJ.P. Laurel Avenue. It then runs through the city center of Davao, turns south, and becomesC.M. Recto Avenue, a one-way street carrying northbound traffic, past its intersection with N919 (Ramon Magsaysay Avenue). At the Bonifacio Rotunda, it turns northwest toDavao–Cotabato Road asA. Pichon Street (one-way carrying southeast-bound traffic), then southwest toElpidio Quirino Avenue and becomesMcArthur Highway at General Generoso Bridge I over Davao River, all through Davao City proper. It then entersSanta Cruz,Davao del Sur as it traverses its eastern coast.
It entersDigos, where it turns west at its intersection with N923 (Digos Diversion Road) and then south at its intersection withN75 to assume the nameDigos–Makar Road, which is locally known asRizal Avenue at the city proper, as it traverses the mountainous terrains up toGeneral Santos.
| Location | General Santos –Koronadal,South Cotabato |
|---|---|
| Length | 20.66 km[11][12] (12.84 mi) |
| Location | Koronadal,South Cotabato –Isulan,Sultan Kudarat |
|---|---|
| Length | 51.67 km[12] (32.11 mi) |
N1 entersSarangani atMalungon, where it runs parallel to Malungon River from there. AtGeneral Santos, it is locally known asJose Catolico Sr. Avenue until turning west to pass by thepoblacion. It turns north at its intersection with N935 (Hadano Avenue) at Hadano Park to assume the nameMarbel–Makar Road, alternately known up toPolomolok asGeneral Santos–Polomolok National Road (GenSan–Polomolok National Road) orPolomolok National Highway. AtKoronadalpoblacion, the highway turns southwest at Marbel Roundball, a roundabout intersection with N940 (Midsayap–Marbel Road) and Koronadal–Lutayan–Columbio Road, and assumes the nameCotabato–Marbel Road up toIsulan. The highway veers northwest atSurallah and entersSultan Kudarat at Isulan, where it becomesMarbel–Allah Valley–Cotabato Road.
N1 entersBangsamoro Region atAmpatuan,Maguindanao del Sur, as it crosses a river as Kakal Bridge. It then entersMaguindanao del Norte atTalitay (Sultan Sumagka). It retains the nameMarbel–Allah Valley–Cotabato Road up toCotabato City. It enters the Cotabato City proper, where it assumes the local nameSinsuat Avenue.

At the junction of Sinsuat, Quezon, and Don Teodoro V. Juliano Avenues, N1 turns east to assume the nameCotabato–Lanao Road up toMatanog, Maguindanao del Norte; its section from the junction toSultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte is also known asQuezon Avenue. Near barangay Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, it takes the longer, circumferential path as it meets the western terminus of N75 (Davao–Cotabato Road). FromSultan Mastura toParang, it follows the diversion road that bypasses thepoblacion of these towns.
EnteringLanao del Sur atSultan Dumalondong, N1 becomesCotabato–Malabang–Lanao del Norte Road as it would also traverseMalabang. InBalabagan, it assumes the alternate nameRizal Avenue as it approaches near the coast of Lanao del Sur withCelebes Sea up toPicong, the last municipality traversed by N1 before leaving Bangsamoro.
N1's section from Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, toBalabagan,Lanao del Sur, is also known asNarciso Ramos Highway.
N1 entersLanao del Norte atSultan Naga Dimaporo, the only municipality it passes through inNorthern Mindanao. It traverses along the southern coast of the province. Within the region and province, it is alternatively known asMalabang–Dobleston–Tukuran Road as it traverses Barangay Dabliston.
| Location | Tukuran,Zamboanga del Sur –Zamboanga City |
|---|---|

N1 entersZamboanga del Sur atTukuran, where it becomes alternatively known asTucuran Junction–Karomatan Junction Road orMalabang–Tukuran Road as it approaches thepoblacion, where it veers away from the province's coast along Pagadian Bay at the Tukuranpoblacion, where it is locally known asRizal Avenue. At the Tukuran Junction, it turns west and becomesLanao–Pagadian–Zamboanga City Road andPagadian City–Zamboanga City Road from thereon. It climbs the mountainous terrain and turns west at its intersection with N9 (Butuan–Cagayan de Oro–Iligan Road) to become alternatively known asNational Highway. It then cuts throughPagadian, where it is a principal route locally known asJ.P. Rizal Avenue through thepoblacion. It entersZamboanga Sibugay, passing through the mountainous terrain and municipalities on the province's southern coast.
N1 entersZamboanga City asMaria Clara L. Lobregat Highway. It then enters the city proper, where it turns south asVeterans Avenue at the Sta. Cruz Junction, then southwest asGovernor Lim Avenue, which carries one-way northeast-bound traffic, and finally southwest asDon Pablo Lorenzo Street. It ends at the intersection with N970 (N.S. Valderosa Street), N966 (Zamboanga City-Labuan-Limpapa Road/J.S. Alano Street/Calle Guardia Nacional), and N971 (Wharf Road/Don Pablo Lorenzo Street), its physical continuation towards thePort of Zamboanga. This junction is situated near the Zamboanga City Hall and the main campus ofUniversidad de Zamboanga.
The current alignment of N1 was formed by the integration and expansion of several colonial-era and post-war highway systems. Its direct predecessors included:[13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
More roads were later constructed and added to integrate with the present alignment of N1 andPan-Philippine Highway (also known as Maharlika Highway since 1979),[21] which was conceived in 1965 as the country's principal transport backbone and later designated as Asian Highway 26 (AH26).[22]
In 2014,Department of Public Works and Highways assigned the segment ofPan-Philippine Highway from Laoag to Guiguinto and from Calamba toZamboanga City,MacArthur Highway from Guiguinto to Caloocan,EDSA, and Manila South Road from Muntinlupa toCalamba as N1.





