Aspiras–Palispis Highway

Aspiras-Palispis Highway
Marcos Highway

The highway in Tuba, Benguet
Route information
Length: 47.2 km (29.3 mi)
Major junctions
East end: Kisad Road and Kennon Road in Baguio
West end: MacArthur Highway in Agoo
Location
Major cities: Baguio
Towns: Agoo, Pugo, Tuba, Tubao
Highway system
Highways in the Philippines

Aspiras–Palispis Highway (formerly known as Marcos Highway) is a Philippine major highway in northern Luzon that runs from the city of Baguio to the municipality of Agoo in the province of La Union.

The 47.17 km[1] highway traverses the Benguet municipality of Tuba, and the La Union municipalities of Pugo, Tubao, and Agoo.

It is one of the three main roads used by motorists and travelers to access Baguio from the lowlands.[2] The highway's several rehabilitation and development efforts[3] led to the road's categorization as an "all-weather road",[4] and is the preferred highway by motorists to use over the older Kennon Road. [5]

History

Marcos Highway was renamed into Aspiras–Palispis Highway on October 31, 2000 with the issuance of Republic Act 8971.[6] The highway section covering Baguio City and Benguet province was designated as the Ben Palispis Highway in honor of former Benguet Governor Ben Palispis. The La Union section of Marcos Highway was named Jose D. Aspiras Highway after Filipino politician Jose D. Aspiras.[5][6] However, the former name is considered by people to be more familiar and is still preferred by most. [7]

The Palina Bridge, situated along the Benguet-La Union provincial border, serves as the boundary between the two highways.[8]

Junctions

Province Location Destination[8] Notes
Benguet Baguio Governor Pack Road Eastern terminus
Kisad Road Eastern terminus
Kennon Road Eastern terminus
Baguio General Hospital Elliptical Road
Legarda Road
Worchester Road
Balsigan Road
North Santo Tomas Road
Bakakeng Norte Road
Justice Village Road
Chapis Village Road
Crystal Cave Road
Bakakeng Central Road 1
Suello Road
Atab East
Atab West
Balacbac-Feeder Road
Tuba Poyopoy Road
La Union Pugo Pugo-Rosario Road
Agoo MacArthur Highway Western terminus

Notable Landmarks

Bust of President Ferdinand Marcos before its destruction in 2002

The 519 meter-long Badiwan Viaduct, constructed in 2001, serves as a major bridge along Badiwan, Barangay Poblacion in Tuba, Benguet.[9] [10] Several meters from it is a concrete tunnel to protect motorists from landslides.[5]

The blasted remains of the Marcos Bust,[11] a giant concrete head sculpture of the former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos can be seen along the highway at Barangay Palina, in Pugo, La Union. [12] [13]

See also

References

  1. "Operation, Maintenance, Improvement of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway". Department of Public Works and Highways (Philippines). 25 Aug 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. "Reason No. 46 - Baguio City: How to Get There". League of Cities of the Philippines. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  3. Zambrano, Joseph (7 April 2013). "Gov’t releases P20 M for highway rehab". Baguio Midland Courier. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  4. "Kennon or Marcos?". GoBaguio!. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Aspiras-Palispis-Marcos Highway". Libotero. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "An Act Naming the Agoo-Tubao-Pugo Section of the Agoo-Baguio Road, the Jose D. Aspiras Highway, and the Benguet-Baguio City Section of the Same Road, the Ben Palispis Highway". Chan Robles Virtual Law Library. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  7. Opiña, Rimaliza (26 July 2010). "Councilor stressed correct name of road". Sun.Star Baguio. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Ben Palispis Hway". Mapcentral. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  9. Alambra, Aurora (29 December 2001). "Arroyo inaugurates Benguet viaduct". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  10. "Barangay Poblacion". Municipality of Tuba, Benguet (official website). Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  11. "Baguio's Three Major Access Roads". City of Pines. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. Dumlao, Artemio (30 December 2002). "Marcos bust blasted". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  13. "La Union: Points of Interest". Tripod (La Union). Retrieved 29 September 2014.

Coordinates: 16°22′43″N 120°32′29″E / 16.3786°N 120.5414°E