Philippine expressway network
Shields forE1 (expressway) /AH26 (Pan-Philippine Highway) andE5 (expressway)
Map of expressways inLuzon, maroon for built expressways and expressways under construction, red for proposed expressways[1]
System information
Maintained by private companies underconcession from theDepartment of Public Works and Highways
Length	626 km[2] (389 mi)
Formed	1968
Highway names
Expressways	Ex
System links
Roads in the Philippines Highways Expressways List

ThePhilippine expressway network, also known as theHigh Standard Highway Network (HSH), is acontrolled-access highway network managed by theDepartment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which consists of all expressways and regional high-standard highways in thePhilippines.^[3]

High standard highways are defined as highways which provide a high level of traffic services by assuring high speed mobility and safe travel in order to vitally support socio-economic activities for sound socio-economic development of strategic regions and the country as a whole.^[3] In the Philippines, controlled-access highways are known as expressways. They are multi-lane dividedtoll roads which are privately maintained underconcession from the government. The regional high standard highways are partial controlled-access highways that function as supplementary to expressways.^[3]

The Philippine expressway network spanned 420 kilometers (260 mi) in length in 2015 and was extended to 626 kilometers (389 mi) in 2020, and is to be extended to 995 kilometers (618 mi) beyond 2030 according to the master plan submitted by theJapan International Cooperation Agency in 2010.^[2] In 2021, JICA updated their plans by proposing a master plan for the development of 4,400 kilometers of expressways (HSH).^[4]

The Philippine highway network spans over 32,000 kilometers (20,000 mi) across all regions of the Philippines. These highways, however, are mostly single and dual carriageways with many U-turn lanes and intersections slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for limited-access highways, the Philippine government requested the government of Japan to conduct a master plan for the development of a high standard highway network in 2009 under the Philippine Medium-Term Public Investment Plan (2005–2010).^[3] The plan calls for the promotion of national integrity by strengthening thePhilippine Nautical Highway System linking roads and ferries, the decongestion of traffic inMetro Manila, and the improvement of accessibility to main tourist spots, among others.^[3]

The Philippine expressway network master plan covers the development of high standard highways surroundingMetro Manila inLuzon,Metro Cebu in theVisayas, and theMetro Davao–General Santos area inMindanao.^[3]

The establishment of limited-access highways or expressways are provided and defined by Republic Act No. 2000 or the Limited Access Highway Act, signed on June 22, 1957. Through the act, the Department of Public Works and Highways is authorized to designate new or existing roads as limited-access highways and to regulate points of entry along these limited-access highways.^[5]

Traffic laws on expressways are defined by the Limited Access Highway Act andDepartment of Public Works and Communications (DPWC) Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1968.^[5][6]

Standard traffic laws on all expressways based on the above laws include:

• Follow the rules and regulations of theLand Transportation and Traffic Code;
• Follow the minimum speed limit and maximum speed limit, except when on accelerating or deaccelerating lanes;
• Slow moving vehicles must stay on the right lane;
• Whenovertaking other vehicles, the left lane must be used as apassing lane;

While traveling along the expressway, vehicles are prohibited from:

• Entering or exiting an expressway into abutting lands or roads outside of designated access points;
• Driving a vehicle over or across themedian strip;
• Making a left turn oru-turn except where explicitly allowed;
• Lane splitting,lane sharing, or lane filtering (including motorcycles);
• Stopping, loading, or unloading a vehicle outside of service areas;
• Making repairs to vehicles on travel lanes;
• Conducting or holdingrallies,parades,funeral processions, and the like;

The following conveyances are prohibited on all expressways in the Philippines:

• Two-wheeledmotorcycles with anengine displacement below 400 cubic centimeters (24 cu in);^[7]
• Three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement below 600 cubic centimeters (37 cu in);^[8]
• Jaywalking,loitering, ortravelling on foot;
• Riding orherding animals;
• Riding abicycle,tricycle,pedicab, or anyunmotorized vehicle;
• Driving any vehicle or equipment with an overall height exceeding 14 feet (4.3 m) or incapable of traveling at the minimum speed limit;
• Putting any stickers, posters, and tarpaulins within the expressway premises, including those used during elections;

High standard highways in the Philippines are classified into two types: the arterial high standard highways or expressways, and regional high standard highways.^[3]

Arterial high standards highways (HSH-1) in the Philippines are known as expressways. They are highways with controlled-access, normally with interchanges and may include facilities for levying tolls for passage in an open or closed system.^[9] Standard features of Philippine expressways include guard rails, rumble strips, signs and pavement markings, solid wall fence, speed radars, toll plaza,closed-circuit television and rest and service areas. The speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) for cars and jeepneys, 80 km/h (50 mph) for trucks and buses, and 60 km/h (37 mph) is the minimum for all classes of vehicles.

The first expressways in the Philippines are theNorth Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and theSouth Luzon Expressway (SLEX), both of which were built in the late 1960s.^[10] The first elevated toll road in the Philippines is theSkyway, with its construction consisting of numerous sections called "stages". Its latest section, Stage 3, was completed in 2021.^[11] TheSouthern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, fromSanto Tomas toLipa inBatangas was opened in 2001 and was extended in 2008. TheSubic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the longest tollway in the Philippines was opened in 2008, setting the stage for the development of theTarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), which would extend beyond the SCTEX' northern terminus in Tarlac City. The TPLEX was opened in 2013. TheCavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX), another expressway in Southern Luzon, was partially opened on October 30, 2019.^[12] TheCentral Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) was partially opened on July 15, 2021.^[13]

There are many under construction and proposed expressways in the Philippines. All the expressways in the Philippines are privately maintained under concession agreements either with theDepartment of Public Works and Highways or theToll Regulatory Board throughbuild–operate–transfer (BOT) arrangements. At present, there are 15 expressways in the Philippines that connect Metro Manila to northern and southern Luzon and 1 expressway in Metro Cebu.

Regional high standard highways in the Philippines are multi-lane arterial roads with bypass,grade separation and/orfrontage road. They connect the expressways and are mostly partial controlled-access highways.^[3] Their design speed is 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) for inter-urban regional highways and 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph) for intra-urban highways.^[3]

Under the implementation of a route numbering system commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on 2014, expressways are signed with yellow pentagonal signs with black numerals. They are prefixed with the letter "E" for "Expressway" to distinguish them from national highways. Expressways numbers are assigned sequentially and continuously.^[9]

The Philippine expressway network is currently consisting of six discontinuous network of expressways, all of which are located in the island of Luzon.^[14][15]

Image	Route	From	To	Length	Toll roads	Areas served	Notes
	E1	Quezon City	Rosario, La Union	226 km (140 mi)	North Luzon Expressway Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (Mabalacat–Tarlac City segment) Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway	Bulacan,La Union, northernMetro Manila,Nueva Ecija,Pampanga,Pangasinan,Tarlac	Includes the 3.36-kilometer (2.09 mi) NLEX Tabang Spur Road in Bulacan.
	E2	Caloocan	Batangas City	103.7 km (64.4 mi)	South Luzon Expressway (Magallanes–Santo Tomas segment) Skyway[note 1] Southern Tagalog Arterial Road	Batangas,Cavite,Laguna,Metro Manila
		Muntinlupa		4 km (2.5 mi)	Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway	Southern Metro Manila,Cavite	Spur of E2
		Caloocan	Manila	7.7 km (4.8 mi)	NLEX Connector	Western Metro Manila	Operational (Caloocan to Magsaysay Boulevard); under construction (Magsaysay Boulevard to Santa Mesa)
	E3	Parañaque	Kawit,Cavite	14 km (8.7 mi)	Manila–Cavite Expressway	Cavite, southernMetro Manila
		Kawit,Cavite	Biñan	44.6 km (27.7 mi)	Cavite–Laguna Expressway	Cavite,Laguna	Partially operational (Silang Aguinaldo to Mamplasan)
	E4	Olongapo	Mabalacat	59.3 km (36.8 mi)	Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway(Dinalupihan–Mabalacat segment)[note 2] Subic Freeport Expressway	Bataan,Pampanga,Zambales
	E5	Quezon City	Navotas	24.85 km (15.44 mi)	NLEX Segment 8.2(Under Construction) NLEX Mindanao Avenue Link NLEX Karuhatan Link NLEX Harbor Link	NorthernMetro Manila	Operational (Valenzuela to Navotas)
		Taguig	Parañaque/Las Piñas	7.7 km (4.8 mi)	CAVITEX–C-5 Link	Southern Metro Manila	Partially operational (Taguig to Merville,Sucat-CAVITEX, Section 3B (Missing) Under Construction)
		Quezon City	Taguig	34 km (21 mi)	Southeast Metro Manila Expressway	Rizal, easternMetro Manila	Under construction
	E6	Parañaque	Taguig	11.6 km (7.2 mi)	NAIA Expressway	SouthernMetro Manila includingNinoy Aquino International Airport

Image	From	To	Length	Toll roads	Areas served	Notes
	Tarlac City	San Jose, Nueva Ecija	66.4 km (41.3 mi)	Central Luzon Link Expressway	Tarlac,Nueva Ecija	Partially operational (Tarlac City to Aliaga)
	Cebu City	Cordova	8.9 km (5.5 mi)	Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway	Cebu City,Cordova	Longest bridge in the Philippines, first expressway in Visayas

Most of the expressways implement tolls, usually of theclosed road andbarrier toll systems. On expressways roads using closed road tolling, motorists first get a card or ticket at the entry point and surrender them upon exit. On expressways implementing barrier tolling, toll collection is done at toll plazas on a fixed rate. Some expressways employ a hybrid system that includes both, like the North Luzon Expressway, which uses both barrier ("open system") and closed road tolling.

Electronic toll collection (ETC) is first implemented on the Skyway and South Luzon Expressway, usingtransponder technology branded E-Pass. ETC systems are implemented by some toll road operators, with inter-running support on other connected expressways. Toll plazas or toll gates have ETC lanes on the leftmost lanes or on "mixed" lanes, that allow cash collection, or both. Latest ETC systems useradio frequency identification (RFID) technology over transponder technology for collection. Having different ETC systems that are not supported on other roads, a plan for a unified ETC system is promoted for motorists' convenience. Cashless toll collections on all expressways are on a dry run since 2023,^[16] aiming for full implementation in 2025.^[17]

As of June 2024^[update], the toll rates by expressway are as follows:

Additionally, since June 1, 2024, the Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate Program is implemented to exempt vehicles carrying agricultural products from toll increases on expressways, aiming to easeinflation on these goods. ForSMC Tollways-operated expressways such as SLEX and MCX, the average rebate ranges from₱2 to₱30. Meanwhile,Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation-operated expressways such as NLEX, SCTEX, and CAVITEX offer rebates ranging from₱16 to₱156. Both rates depend on the vehicle class, with the latter depending on the distance travelled as well.^[18]

A component of the expressway network or the High Standard Highway Network is the Luzon Spine Expressway Network (LSEN). It is a planned network of interconnected expressways within the island ofLuzon. It is part of theBuild! Build! Build! Infrastructure Plan ofDuterteNomics^[19] and theBuild Better More ofBongbong Marcos.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to the following expressways:

• Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX)
• CAVITEX–C-5 Link
• Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX)
• Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX)
• Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway (MCX)
• NAIA Expressway (NAIAX)
• NLEX Connector
• NLEX Harbor Link
• North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
• Skyway
• South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
• Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway)
• Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX)
• Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
• Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX)

New expressways will be built as well, such as:

• C-5 Expressway
• C-6 Expressway
• CAVITEX–C-5 Link Segments 2 and 3B
• Cavite–Batangas Expressway (CBEX)^[20]
• Camarines Sur Expressway
• Cavite–Laguna Expressway (Kawit to Silang West)
• Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 2 (Aliaga to San Jose)
• Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Cordillera-Cagayan-Isabela Expressway (INISCCIEX)
• Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike (LLED)
• Manila–Cavite Expressway Segment 5 and Sangley Point Extension
• Manila–Quezon Expressway (MQEX)
• NAIA Expressway (BGC to Sales Interchange)
• Nasugbu–Bauan Expressway (NBEX)^[21][22]
• NLEX Connector (España to Sta. Mesa)
• NLEX Harbor Link Segment 8.2
• North Eastern Luzon Expressway (NELEX)
• North Luzon East Expressway (NLEE)^[23]
• North Luzon Expressway Phase 3
• North Luzon Expressway Air
• Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX)^[24]
• Ortigas Expressway (R-5 Expressway)
• Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX)^[25][26]
• R-7 Expressway
• Skyway Stage 7
• SLEX Toll Road 4 and5^[27][23]
• Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX)^[28]
• Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME, Skyway Stage 4)
• Tanauan-Tagaytay Expressway (Skyway Stage 8)
• Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway Extension

TheAsian Highway 26 () passes through three expressways in the Philippines:

1. North Luzon Expressway fromGuiguinto,Bulacan toBalintawak Interchange,Quezon City;
2. South Luzon Expressway fromMagallanes Interchange,Makati toCalamba,Laguna; and
3. Skyway fromMakati toAlabang.^{[note 1]}

• Philippine highway network
• List of expressways in the Philippines
• Transportation in the Philippines
• List of bridges in the Philippines
• Philippine Nautical Highway System

• South Luzon Expressway Construction Project

• Roads in the Philippines
• Controlled-access highways by country

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