President Elpidio Quirino Avenue, more commonly known as Quirino Avenue, is a 6-10 lane divided highway in Manila, Philippines. It runs for 3.6 kilometers (2.2 mi) in a northeast–southwest direction from Nagtahan Bridge (now Mabini Bridge) across Santa Mesa in the north to Roxas Boulevard in Malate in the south. It passes through the Paco and Pandacan districts and serves as a truck route between the Port Area and the South Luzon Expressway. North of Nagtahan Bridge, the road continues as Nagtahan Street. It is designated as part of Circumferential Road 2. It is named after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines.
.svg) C-2  | |
|---|---|
| President Elpidio Quirino Avenue Pres. Quirino Avenue | |
 Looking west towards Malate from Quirino LRT Station | |
 Interactive map of Quirino Avenue | |
| Former name(s) | Dewey Boulevard Harrison Boulevard (until 1971) Koa Boulevard |
| Namesake | Elpidio Quirino |
| Maintained by | Department of Public Works and Highways - South Manila District Engineering Office[1] and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority |
| Length | 3.6 km (2.2 mi) 1 km round |
| Component highways |
|
| Location | Manila |
| North end | Paz Mendoza Guazon Street & Jesus Street in Paco and Pandacan |
| Major junctions |
|
| South end |  AH 26 (N120) (Roxas Boulevard) in Malate |
Route description
edit- Nagtahan Bridge to Paco-Santa Mesa Road section
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The northern end of Quirino Avenue is at the intersection of Paz Mendoza Guazon (Otis) and Jesus Streets in Paco, at the foot of the Nagtahan Bridge, as a continuation of Nagtahan Street. Heading south, it enters Pandacan, moving past primarily residential areas on both sides, meeting the Nagtahan ramps to and from Skyway Stage 3, and passing by Zamora Market on the western side. At Plaza Berde, the avenue then curves southwest to follow the alignment of the Philippine National Railways line, which merges with traffic from Paco-Santa Mesa Road (Tomas Claudio Street).
- Paco-Santa Mesa Road to Osmeña Highway section
South of the junction with Tomas Claudio, the avenue re-enters the district of Paco, where the old Paco station and Plaza Dilao are located. Southbound traffic is currently carried by Plaza Dilao Road, a loop road around Plaza Dilao just off the main highway, while northbound traffic remains on Quirino. Also located along this stretch are the Plaza Dilao on-ramp to Skyway, the Philippine Columbian Association complex on Plaza Dilao, and the new Paco railway station near the intersection with Pedro Gil Street. It follows a straight path south towards the border with Malate and is joined by Osmeña Highway.
- Osmeña Highway to Roxas Boulevard section
The Malate section of Quirino Avenue is primarily residential and commercial. The Singalong area, where the Quirino ramps to and from Skyway are located, lies directly south of the Osmeña Highway junction just before it intersects with Taft Avenue, where the elevated Quirino LRT Station is located. Past Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue provides access to the tourism center of Malate. It curves westwards past Adriatico Street until it meets its southern terminus at Roxas Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay. A monument of Elpidio Quirino, after whom the avenue is named, is also located at the intersection.
Quirino Avenue Extension
edit.svg)  | |
|---|---|
 Quirino Avenue Extension looking south towards Plaza Dilao | |
 Interactive map of Quirino Avenue Extension | |
| Former name | Calle Canonigo (until 1971) |
| Namesake | Elpidio Quirino |
| Length | 0.75 km (0.47 mi) Approximate length |
| Location | Paco, Manila |
| North end |  N156 (United Nations Avenue) / Paz Mendoza Guazon Street / Cristobal Street |
| South end | N156 (Plaza Dilao Road) |
Quirino Avenue extends to the industrial area of Paco (Otis) and United Nations Avenue from Plaza Dilao Road. Formerly known as Calle Canonigo,[2][3] this is the main truck route going in and out of the Port Area from Osmeña Highway.
History
editEarly history
editQuirino Avenue's origin could be traced back to two distinct roads developed during the Spanish and American colonial eras, namely: Canonigo Street (previously Calle Canonigo) and Harrison Boulevard (previously part of Dewey Boulevard).[3] The avenue also incorporated other historic roads. The path toward the Nagtahan Bridge were narrow streets called Calle Luengo and Consuelo Street in Pandacan,[4] while the coastal edge in southern Malate was connected to Cavite Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) via Calle Cortabitarte, which survives today as a frontage road across from the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center.[2]
Calle Canonigo, which presently forms the avenue's extension at the east, dates back to the early 19th century under Spanish colonial rule when it was first laid out in Paco to connect Calle Isaac Peral (now United Nations Avenue) and Plaza Dilao.[5] On the other hand, Harrison Boulevard was built in the 20th century during the American colonial period to form the avenue's western section, spanning from Plaza Dilao to the Manila Bay coastline.[2] This newer segment initially served as an extension of Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) before receiving its distinct name. Plaza Dilao, which served as a major junction between Harrison and Canonigo, evolved into an important transportation hub following the opening of the Paco railway station in 1915. During the Japanese occupation in World War II, Harrison Boulevard was briefly renamed Koa Boulevard by virtue of Executive Order No. 41 issued in 1942.[6]
Unification as Quirino Avenue
editCanonigo Street and Harrison Boulevard were later combined and renamed as President Quirino Avenue, in honor of the sixth Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, by virtue of Ordinance No. 7098, approved by Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas on December 16, 1971.[3] The section of the avenue between Plaza Dilao in Paco and Jesus Street in Pandacan was later built over the former Zamora and Consuelo Streets. This construction split the original Zamora Street into West and East Zamora Streets, while the section formerly known as Canonigo Street became the Quirino Avenue Extension.[7]
The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, including its on- and off-ramps, was constructed above the avenue's section between San Marcelino Street and P. Quirino Bridge 3 from 2014 until Skyway's Nagtahan ramp opened in 2021.[8][9]
2026 tree cutting
editIn May 2026, the felling of approximately 617 trees along Quirino Avenue's section west of the Metro Manila Skyway's Quirino ramp for the elevated Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx) project of the San Miguel Corporation and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) drew heavy criticism.[10] While environmental and heritage advocacy groups strongly condemned the loss of Manila's dwindling urban green canopy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and project proponents defended the action, citing valid permits and a commitment to plant 50,700 replacement seedlings.[11] On May 27, 2026, the tree cutting was halted by the DENR.[12]
Landmarks
edit
- Aloha Hotel
- Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas
- Bureau of Plant Industry
- Jacinto Zamora Elementary School
- Manila Zoo
- Old Paco railway station
- Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center
- Malacañang Hospital
- Manuel Roxas High School
- Paraiso ng Batang Maynila Park
- Philippine Columbian Association
- Plaza Dilao
- President Elpidio Quirino Monument
- Saint Peter the Apostle School
- San Andres Market
- Zamora Market
Intersections
editQuirino Avenue
edit
The entire route is located in Manila. Intersections are numbered by kilometer post, with Rizal Park, also in Manila, designated as kilometer 0.
| km | mi | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 N140 (Nagtahan Bridge), Paz Mendoza Guazon Street, Jesus Street | Northern terminus; continues north as Nagtahan Bridge | ||||
| Mendoza Guazon Street | Traffic Light intersection | ||||
| 5.700 | 3.542 | P. Quirino Bridge 3 over Estero de Pandacan[13] | |||
| Skyway | Skyway-Nagtahan Exit; northbound entrance from Skyway Stage 3[14] | ||||
| East Zamora Street | Northbound entrance only | ||||
| Paradise Street | Northbound only | ||||
| Skyway | Skyway-Nagtahan Exit; southbound exit to Skyway Stage 3 northbound | ||||
| Obisis Street | Southbound only | ||||
| Carlos Street Extension | Northbound only | ||||
| West Zamora Street | Former traffic light intersection | ||||
| San Jose Street | Northbound only | ||||
| E. Carlos Street | Northbound only | ||||
 N141 (Tomas Claudio Street) | Northbound only | ||||
| 4.450 | 2.765 | P. Quirino Bridge 2 over Estero de Pandacan[13] | |||
| Skyway | Skyway-Plaza Dilao Exit; southbound exit | ||||
| N156 (Plaza Dilao Road) | Northbound exit, southbound exit, and southbound entrance only | ||||
| Santo Sepulcro Street | Southbound only. | ||||
| Figueroa Street | One-way; no entry from Quirino Avenue | ||||
| Pedro Gil Street | Traffic light intersection; no right turn allowed from southbound and no left turn allowed from northbound | ||||
| Sagat Street | One-way; southbound only | ||||
 N145 (Osmeña Highway) | Traffic light intersection. | ||||
| Union Street, Lanuza Street | Southbound only; Union Street is one-way | ||||
| Paz Street | Southbound only | ||||
| 3.850 | 2.392 | P. Quirino Bridge 1 over Estero de Paco[13] | |||
| Anak Bayan Street, Julio Nakpil Street, Mataas na Lupa Street | Unsignalized intersections. | ||||
| Campillo Street | Northbound only | ||||
| Angel Linao Street | Unsignalized intersection; one-way road and former traffic light intersection | ||||
| Pintong Bato Street | Southbound only | ||||
| Smith Street | Northbound only | ||||
| Singalong Street | One-way road and former traffic light intersection; no access to opposite direction. | ||||
| San Bartolome Street | Limited access road; southbound only | ||||
| Skyway | Skyway-Quirino Exit; northbound exit and southbound entrance | ||||
| F. Benitez Street | One-way road; no access to opposite direction | ||||
| Modesto Street | No access to opposite directions | ||||
 N181 (San Marcelino Street) | Traffic light intersection; one-way road | ||||
| San Pascual Street, Agoncillo Street | No access to opposite directions | ||||
| San Antonio Street | Northbound only | ||||
| Leon Guinto Street | Traffic light intersection | ||||
| San Andres Street | One-way road going in opposite directions; bisected by Taft Avenue | ||||
 N170 (Taft Avenue) | Traffic light intersection | ||||
| Fidel A. Reyes Street, Maginhawa Street, Bagong Lipunan Street | Northbound only | ||||
| Leveriza Street | Traffic light intersection | ||||
| Camia Street, Asuncion Street | Northbound only | ||||
| Adriatico Street | Traffic light intersection; northern segment is one-way towards Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden | ||||
| Madre Ignacia Street | Unsignaled intersection | ||||
| Mabini Street | Traffic light intersection; northern segment is one-way only | ||||
| Del Pilar Street | Traffic light intersection; one-way entrance only | ||||
| AH 26 (N120) (Roxas Boulevard) | Southern terminus | ||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
Quirino Avenue Extension
editThe entire route is located in Manila.
| km | mi | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N156 (Plaza Dilao Road) | Southern terminus | ||||
| San Antonio Street | One-way entrance only | ||||
| San Gregorio Street | Southbound only | ||||
| Peñafrancia Street, Zamora Street | Traffic light intersection | ||||
| Peñafrancia Extension | Northbound only | ||||
| Zulueta Street | Southbound only | ||||
| Paz Street | Unsignalled intersection | ||||
| Cristobal Street | Southbound entrance only | ||||
| N156 (United Nations Avenue), Paz Mendoza Guazon Street | Northern terminus; traffic light intersection | ||||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "South Manila". Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- 1 2 3 Map of city of Manila and vicinity (Map). 1:10560. Manila: Office of Dept. Engineer, Phil. Dept. 1919. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- 1 2 3 Ordinance No. 7098 (1971), An Ordinance Renaming Canonigo Street and Harrison Boulevard, from Roxas Bulevard to United Nations Avenue "President Quirino Avenue" (PDF), City Council of Manila, retrieved May 25, 2026
- ↑ "1945 Map of Central Manila". BattleofManila.org. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ↑ "History of San Fernando de Dilao". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ↑ Executive Order No. 41 (1942), Changing the name of Dewey Boulevard to Heiwa Boulevard; Taft Avenue to Daitoa Avenue; Harrison Boulevard to Koa Boulevard; Jones Bridge to Banzai Bridge; Harrison Park to Rizal Park; and Wallace Field and Burnham Green to Plaza Bagong Filipinas, archived from the original on April 26, 2021, retrieved April 26, 2021
- ↑ Table and Pocket Map Guide City of Manila (Map). J.M. Azucena Publishing. 1960. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Skyway Stage 3 starts on Feb. 17". Manila Standard Today. February 17, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ↑ De Guzman, Marcus (September 29, 2021). "SMC to open three new Skyway 3 on-ramps this Friday". AutoIndustriya.com. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ↑ "The massacre of Quirino Avenue trees". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ↑ Bacelonia, Wilnard (May 25, 2026). "DENR: Permitted tree-cutting projects undergo strict review". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ↑ Gregorio, Andrea (May 27, 2026). "DENR: Tree-cutting along Quirino Ave. voluntarily halted after protests". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Detailed Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ↑ Abadilla, Emmie V. (April 22, 2021). "Skyway Stage 3's Nagtahan exit ramps opened". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
