National Route 1 (N1) is a primary national route that forms part of the Philippine highway network, running from Luzon to Mindanao. Except for a gap in Metro Manila and ferry connections, the highway is generally continuous. Most sections of N1 forms the Pan-Philippine Highway except for sections bypassed by expressways.
Route description
N1 follows a route that runs from Laoag in Ilocos Norte to Zamboanga City via Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and eastern parts of Mindanao. The highway connects most major regional centers on its route and runs through different landscapes. The highway is mostly named Maharlika Highway, but other sections use different names.
Ilocos Region
N1 begins at the intersection with N2 (Manila North Road) and N100 (Laoag Airport Road) in Laoag as Manila 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, briefly following J.P. Rizal Avenue before turning to General Segundo Avenue; both are principal city streets passing through the city proper and through its outskirts. Approaching Bacarra, it becomes a rural highway. At Bacarra, it bypasses the town center to the north and runs through a rural area, and then enters Pasuquin, where it serves as a major municipal street. Between Bacarra and Burgos, it becomes a rural two-lane highway and passes through interspersed barangays along the South China Sea (West Philippine 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 where Bangui Wind Farm lies. It then passes through Bangui, where it runs as a major street on the town center, crosses Bulu River, and enters Pagudpud, which bypasses the town proper. N1 runs through the foothills that mark the edge of the Northern Luzon Cordillera and runs close to the coastline of Bashi Channel, where the highway zigzags through the cliffs through the Patapat Viaduct, a viaduct that is required for the highway to pass the steep cliffs marking the northern edge of the Cordillera Range.
Cagayan Valley
Entering the Cagayan Valley region, N1 follows Manila North Road up to barangay Bangag, Aparri, where it turns south and becomes Bangag-Magapit Road up to the Magapit Interchange in Lal-lo. In Lal-lo, N1 is carried by the Magapit Suspension Bridge over the Cagayan River before meeting the Magapit Interchange. At the interchange, it turns southeast and becomes Cagayan Valley Road from Magapit, Lal-lo to Tuguegarao, 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 towards Peñablanca and run parallel to the Cagayan River up to Reina Mercedes, Isabela. It then enters the province of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya as Maharlika Highway, although it is alternatively called Cagayan Valley Road up to Guiguinto, Bulacan. It serves as the main artery of Isabela alongside N51. At Nueva Vizcaya, N1 runs parallel to and crosses the Magat River and traverses Dalton Pass, where Sierra Madre and Caraballo Sur meet.
Central Luzon
Nueva Ecija
The highway soon enters Nueva Ecija at Carranglan. It then descends to the plain terrain in San Jose as it approaches the poblacion. It then cuts through Muñoz and Talavera before turning east by its junction with N114 (Nueva Ecija–Pangasinan Road) in Santo Domingo. It then cuts through Talavera (once again, this time with the poblacion), Cabanatuan, Santa Rosa, San Leonardo and Gapan.
