Metro Manila has a very etensive roadway system connecting the cities and municipalities of the metropolis and its surrounding provinces. The major roadways are the ten radial roads, braching from the capital city of Manila, and the five circumferential roads, which form semicircles around the city of Manila. It should be known that the Radial and Circumferential roads are not 'existing roads', per se, but are labels that connect existing roads, so that they serve as guides.
Radial Roads
The ten radial roads serve the purpose of conveying traffic in and out of the city of Manila to the surroundin cities of the metropolis, and to the provinces.
R-1 beginning at Navotas town as the Radial road, which passes through the Manila North piers, then at Tondo district of Manila, makes a turn to Del Pan, which continues on to Bonifacio Drive. Bonifacio Drive is the major road of the Manila South Harbor, and of Intramuros, the walled city. It then continues on to President Manuel Roxas Boulevard , formerly known as General Dewey Boulevard, which is the most famous road in the Philippines, for its grand hotels, exquisite yacht clubs, embassies, and most of all, the famed Manila sunset. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines), Museo Pambata (Children's Museum), Manila Yacht Club, the Embassy of the United States of America, and various seaside restaurants. The said boulevard has been the target of the beautification project of Manila mayor Lito Atienza . R-1 then continues to skirt the Manila bay coastline of the cities of Pasay, Paranaque , and Las Pinas as the Manila-Cavite Expressway (formerly called Coastal Road and General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway). R-1 is the main road of the Ermita district of Manila, and connects it with Cavite province.
R-2 commences at the corner of Francis Burton Harrison with EDSA. It continues on to President Elpidio Quirino Highway, on to Bacoor town of Cavite province. R-2 is the main road of the Malate district of Manila, and connects it with Cavite province
R-3, also known as the President Sergio Osmena, Sr. Highway all throughout its course in Metro Manila, is also one of the widest roads in the Philippines. It connects Manila with Calamba City, Laguna province. In its course in the metropolis, it passes (south bound lane) through the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay, Bicutan district of Paranaque , and Muntinlupa. The highway has two service lanes. R-3 is a tollway, and is popularly called South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) among the Manilenos. From the Metro Manila-Cavite province border, it is then called Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Highway, after the Philippines' national hero. R-3 connects Manila with Laguna province.
R-4 starts from the city of Manila, as Victorio Mapa boulevard, then as it reaches Mandaluyong City, is called P. Sanchez. Furthermore, it is then called Shaw Boulevard. Shaw Boulevard houses many of Metro Manila's shopping centers, such as the Marketplace, Manuela's, Puregold, and the posh Shangri-La Plaza. As it reaches Pasig City, it is renamed Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Avenue, then makes a curve to the right, again renamed as Pasig Boulevard. R-4 is the main road of Santa Mesa district of Manila, and connects it with Rizal province.
R-5 is Pedro Gil (Herran) St., which, like its counterparts, starts from the city of Manila. As Pedro Gil crosses President Elpidio Quirino Avenue, it then turns left to Tejeron, then after it crosses A.P. Reyes Avenue, where it is known as Dr. Jose P. Rizal Avenue, or National Highway. R-5 is continuous with the whole of the Philippine archipelago south of Manila as the Maharlika Highway . R-5 is the main road of the Santa Ana district of Manila, and connects it with Laguna province.
R-6 is Mendiola, one of the most historic roads in the metropolis. It is lined by the Malacanang Palace, San Beda College, College of the Holy Spirit, San Sebastian College, and the Centro Escolar University. From Mendiola, R-6 turns to the left as Legarda Avenue. Legarda Avenue contains the most preserved buildings of the Spanish-American era of the country, and is also where Arellano University is situated. It continues on further as the President Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard (formerly Santa Mesa Boulevard), then to Quezon City as the Aurora Boulevard. When followed on, R-6 continues on to Sumulong Highway of Antipolo City, Rizal Province. R-6 reaches up to Infanta, Quezon province. R-6 is the main throughfare of the San Miguel district of Manila, and connects the latter with Rizal province.
R-7 runs from Nicanor Reyes Avenue (formerly called Miguel Morayta Avenue), which is where Far Eastern University is situated. Nicanor Reyes Avenue and Lerma Avenue unite to form the Espana Boulevard. Espana Boulevard runs through the University of Santo Tomas and the Welcome Rotonda. From the Welcome Rotonda, it then continues on to Quezon City as the Quezon Avenue. Quezon Avenue is one of the scenic and comfortable roads in the metropolis. It runs smoothly through the center of Quezon City, and is lined at the island by palm trees, and on the sides by offices, stores, and nightclubs. It continues on as Elliptical Road, and Don Mariano Marcos Highway (Commonwealth Avenue), Regalado Avenue, and Quirino Highway. It reaches until Norzagaray , Bulacan Province. R-7 is the main road of the Sampaloc district of Manila, and connects it with Bulacan province.
R-8 is Dimasalang, and the continues on to Andres Bonifacio Avenue. R-8 splits in the Balintawak cloverleaf into the Quirino Highway and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). R-8 is one of the main roads of the Santa Cruz district of Manila, and connects the latter with Bulacan province through its two branches.
R-9 starts from the Manila City Hall, and then stretches on as Rizal Avenue (Avenida) on the north, or General William Taft Avenue on the south. Taft Avenue houses many of the government offices, University of the Philippines, and the Philippine General Hospital. Also located in Gen. Taft Avenue is the Philippine Women's University, Philippine Christian University, and the elite De La Salle University. It continues on to Pasay City. Its major attractions in Pasay City is the Cartimar pet market, the hangout of many pet lovers. In Rizal Avenue, there is an abundance of stores. LRT-1 is built upon this road. It continues on from Caloocan City as General Douglas MacArthur Highway, and is continuous up to the rest of Luzon island north of Manila. This is one of the main roads of the Santa Cruz district of Manila, and connects Manila with Bulacan province on the north.
R-10 is a small road in Navotas town's northern shores. It is not determined up to what extent R-10 occupies, but is may also include the newly built modern Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard. R-10 connects Manila with Bulacan province on the north, and with Cavite province on the south.
Circumferential Roads
The five circumferential roads are arranged semicircular in and around Metro Manila, so as to get traffic from the northern part to the southern part as easy as possible. There is also a new circumferential road, the C-6, which is being planned.
C-1 is the Claro Recto (Azcarraga) Avenue, which starts from the Divisoria shopping district of Manila, then turns sharply to the right to Arranque flea market, and continue on to President Jose Laurel Avenue, passing through Malacanang Palace and the Manila Muslim area. C-1 is the main throughfare of the Binondo and Quiapo districts of Manila.
C-2 starts from Tayuman road, then continues on as Arsenio H. Lacson Avenue (formerly called Governor Forbes) as it skirts the old San Lazaro Hippodrome. It crosses R-6 (Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard) then becoming renamed as Nagtahan Boulevard. Nagtahan Boulevard crosses the Nagtahan bridge, the largest bridge of Pasig River, thence becomes President Elpidio Quirino Avenue, which continues on until it reaches R-1 (President Manuel Roxas Boulevard]].
C-3 occupies various roads of the metropolis, although the roads it occupy are not interconnected. C-3 is the only circumferential road of the metropolis which has no one single direct connection. C-3 starts from Senator Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly known as Buendia). Sen. Puyat Avenue, in turn, rises from R-10 (Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard). C-3 formally ends abruptly somewhere at the middle portion of the Sen. Puyat Boulevard, and resurfaces again as General Gregorio Araneta Avenue. Araneta Avenue starts from N. Domingo Street, then continues on to Balingasa district of Quezon City, where it is renamed as Sergeant Emilio Rivera (formerly called Tagaytay). As it cross R-9N (Rizal Avenue), it is called simply as C-3 Road, then as 11th Avenue in Navotas town.
C-4 is EDSA. EDSA is the most widest road in the Philippines. C-4 continues on northward until Monumento, where it is called Samson Road, then in Navotas, as Letre Road. EDSA Extension, the southern part of EDSA crosses R-10 (Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, and ends at the rotonda of the SM Mall of Asia.
C-5 starts from Marina Avenue of the exclusive Marina subdivision of Paranaque City , then continues on until Merville Access Road, then to President Carlos Garcia Highway (commonly called C-5). As it reaches Pasig City, C-5 is then called EUlogio ROdriguez, Jr. Avenue, then continues on as Katipunan Avenue, which passes through the exclusive schools of Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College, and the University of the Philippines. As it crosses R-7 (Mariano Marcos Avenue), is is called Luzon Avenue, then stops.
C-6 is a planned superhighway that will act as a diversion of Metro Manila, so that buses and other transportation vehicles coming from the souther provinces to the northern provinces need not pass through Metro Manila, thus preventing traffic in the metropolis, it ia also geared into cutting the travel time to North Luzon.
When built, C-6 will run from Bacoor in Cavite province to the elite Alabang district in Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila, while connecting with President Sergio Osmena, Sr. Highway, then turn to the left, passing on the coast of Laguna de Bay, then through the towns of Taytay , Angono , Antipolo City, and San Mateo in Rizal province, connect to R-7 (Mariano Marcos Avenue), then connect with North Luzon Expressway, providing an energy-efficient diversion aroudn Metro Manila.
It is also rumored to built another circumferential road, C-7, although this remains unconfirmed by government officials.
Other Major Roads
Other Major Roads are Del Monte Avenue (San Francisco Del Monte district of Quezon City), Mayon Avenue (La Loma district of Quezon City), Banawe Avenue (Santa Mesa Heights of Quezon City), North Avenue (Project 6 district of Quezon City), Ongpin Street (Chinatown district of Manila), Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue (Makati Central Business District), Kalayaan Avenue (Rockwell district of Makati), Madrigal Avenue (Ayala-Alabang Village of Muntinlupa City), Ortigas Avenue (Greenhills district of San Juan), Gilmore Avenue (New Manila district of Quezon City), Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. Avenue (Cubao district of Quezon City), Alabang-Zapote Road (through Las Pinas City), Dr. Apolonio Santos, or Sucat Avenue (Sucat district of Paranaque City), and Dona Soledad Avenue (Bicutan district of Paranaque City).
