Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA), also known as the Olongapo–Gapan Road and the Gapan–San Fernando–Olongapo Road, is a two-to-thirteen-lane major highway spanning the provinces of
Bataan
Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the enti ...
,
Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga, and
Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
in
Central Luzon
Central Luzon ( pam, (Reyun ning) Kalibudtarang Luzon, pag, (Rehiyon na) Pegley na Luzon, tgl, (Rehiyon ng) Gitnang Luzon, ilo, (Rehion/Deppaar ti) Tengnga ti Luzon), designated as Region III, is an administrative region in the Philippines, ...
, Philippines. The highway is designated as National Route 3 (N3) of the
Philippine highway network
The Philippine highway network is a network of national roads owned and maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and organized into three classifications according to their function or purpose: national primary, seconda ...
.
Etymology
Jose Abad Santos Avenue is named in honor of
José Abad Santos
José Abad Santos y Basco (, ; February 19, 1886 – May 1, 1942) was the fifth chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He briefly served as the acting president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and acting commander-in-chi ...
,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
The chief justice of the Philippines ( fil, Punong Mahistrado ng Pilipinas) presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines.
As of April 5, 2021, the position is curr ...
, who was executed by the
Japanese invading forces during
World War II. Abad Santos was born in
San Fernando, Pampanga
San Fernando, officially the City of San Fernando ( pam, Lakanbalen ning Sampernandu; fil, Lungsod ng San Fernando), is a 1st class component city and capital of the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a pop ...
, through which the road passes. The avenue's former names once varied, suggesting its segments between two adjacent provinces. It was formerly known as ''Bataan–Pampanga Road'', ''Nueva Ecija–Pampanga Road'', and the Dinalupihan–Olongapo (Bataan–Zambales) segment of ''Angeles–Porac–Olongapo Road'', respectively. The entire stretch was formerly called ''Olongapo–Gapan Road'' and ''Gapan–San Fernando–Olongapo Road'' (GSO Road). The name was changed in line with Republic Act No. 9477 signed by President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...
on May 22, 2007. Nowadays, the avenue is commonly referred to by its acronym JASA; however, its old name is still used.
However, the avenue's segment in Olongapo city proper is a part of and locally known as Rizal Avenue, after the
Philippine national hero
A national hero of the Philippines is a Filipino who has been recognized as a national hero for his or her role in the history of the Philippines. Loosely, the term may refer to all Filipino historical figures recognized as heroes, but the term mo ...
Dr.
José Rizal, for being the road that leads to
Manila.
History
Jose Abad Santos Avenue traces its roots to the
pre-colonial period. The
Kapampangan empire expanded their trade throughout Central Luzon, but were forced to create roads adjacent to the
Pampanga River
The Pampanga River is the second largest river on the island of Luzon in the Philippines (next to Cagayan River) and the country's fifth longest river. It is in the Central Luzon region and traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nuev ...
. Since Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and
Rizal (including cities now part of
Metro Manila) were readily accessible because the road networks to those locations existed, the empire could not access the provinces of Zambales and Bataan. Through the years, they developed land tracks accessible by foot and small wagons pulled by horses.
When the
Spanish colonials came in the Philippines, they developed the road built by the old empire. They widened the road, constructed wooden bridges, and connected it to
Olongapo, a very vital location which enabled them to easily access Subic Bay, the site of their
naval base.
When the
Americans
Americans are the citizens and nationals of the United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents could also legally claim Ameri ...
came, they paved the Olongapo Gapan Road and constructed concrete bridges. The longest is the one that traverses the
Pampanga River
The Pampanga River is the second largest river on the island of Luzon in the Philippines (next to Cagayan River) and the country's fifth longest river. It is in the Central Luzon region and traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nuev ...
. These actions enabled them to connect their
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located west of Angeles City, about northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was previously a United States military facility, operated by the U.S. Air For ...
and their Naval Base in Subic Bay. Greater improvements on the road were made in this period.
When
World War II started, the Olongapo–Gapan Road was blockaded, halting transportation throughout the entire span of the road. The
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
bombed the road to stop the Americans and Filipinos from the fortification of different bases in
Central Luzon
Central Luzon ( pam, (Reyun ning) Kalibudtarang Luzon, pag, (Rehiyon na) Pegley na Luzon, tgl, (Rehiyon ng) Gitnang Luzon, ilo, (Rehion/Deppaar ti) Tengnga ti Luzon), designated as Region III, is an administrative region in the Philippines, ...
. During this time, the road was part of Highway 7 from Olongapo to Pampanga, Highway 19 from Pampanga to
San Isidro, Nueva Ecija
San Isidro, officially the Municipality of San Isidro,( tgl, Bayan ng San Isidro), is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 54,372 people.
The municipality is bo ...
, and Highway 10 from San Isidro to Gapan.
After the end of the War, the
Philippine Government
The Government of the Philippines ( fil, Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas) has three interdependent branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Philippines is governed as a unitary state under a presidential representative and ...
rehabilitated and repaired the whole road, paving all of the 118-kilometer-long highway. New bridges were constructed, shoulders were improved and some facilities were added.
During the
Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, some portions of a highway, especially its
Bacolor
Bacolor, officially the Municipality of Bacolor ( pam, Balen ning Bakúlud; tgl, Bayan ng Bacolor), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,066 people.
Bacolor ...
and Magliman, San Fernando section, were buried in lahar and many bridges were destroyed. A year after the disaster, these sections were rehabilitated, which involved building new roads and bridges as well as making their elevation become higher.
Today, Olongapo–Gapan Road, now called Jose Abad Santos Avenue and designated as National Route 3 of the
Philippine highway network
The Philippine highway network is a network of national roads owned and maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and organized into three classifications according to their function or purpose: national primary, seconda ...
, is the most significant toll-free road that connects
Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga,
Bataan
Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the enti ...
, and
Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
.
Route description
The road passes to
Gapan,
San Isidro, and
Cabiao
Cabiao, officially the Municipality of Cabiao (Tagalog: ''Bayan ng Cabiao''), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,862 people. Cabiao is the 3rd most popu ...
in Nueva Ecija,
Santa Ana,
Arayat,
Mexico, City of
San Fernando,
Bacolor
Bacolor, officially the Municipality of Bacolor ( pam, Balen ning Bakúlud; tgl, Bayan ng Bacolor), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,066 people.
Bacolor ...
,
Guagua
Guagua, officially the Municipality of Guagua ( pam, Balen ning Guagua; tl, Bayan ng Guagua), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 128,893 people.
The town o ...
, and
Lubao
Lubao, officially the Municipality of Lubao ( pam, Balen ning Lubao; fil, Bayan ng Lubao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 173,502 people.
It is noted f ...
in Pampanga,
Hermosa and
Dinalupihan
Dinalupihan, officially the Municipality of Dinalupihan ( tl, Bayan ng Dinalupihan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 118,209 people.
Dinalupihan, the only ...
in Bataan, and finally to the city of
Olongapo in Zambales.
The highway also serves a major utility corridor, carrying various high voltage
overhead power line
An overhead power line is a structure used in electric power transmission and distribution to transmit electrical energy across large distances. It consists of one or more uninsulated electrical cables (commonly multiples of three for three-p ...
s through densely populated areas where acquisition and designation of right of way or power line alignment and lands for their associated structures is impractical. Notable power lines using the highway's right of way for most or part of their route are the
Hermosa–Duhat–Balintawak transmission line from Hermosa Substation of
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is a privately owned corporation that was created on January 15, 2009, through RA 9511. It is a consortium of three corporations, namely Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, Calaca High Po ...
(NGCP) to San Fernando Exit of
North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Hermosa–Calaguiman line from NGCP Hermosa Substation in Hermosa to Layac Junction in Dinalupihan. The San Fernando segment of the Hermosa–Duhat–Balintawak line itself is undergoing relocation since 2010 to alleviate heavy traffic along the avenue due to the presence of its electric poles standing on the highway itself, and to pave the way for the expansion of some segments of the avenue, particularly at Barangay Dolores.
Gapan to San Fernando
The road starts on
Pan-Philippine Highway (
N1/AH26) in the city of
Gapan in Nueva Ecija. It enters
San Isidro where the road turns westward. A few meters is
Cabiao
Cabiao, officially the Municipality of Cabiao (Tagalog: ''Bayan ng Cabiao''), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,862 people. Cabiao is the 3rd most popu ...
where the road continues straightforward, again turning westward then eastward, entering
Pampanga, and passes through
Pampanga River
The Pampanga River is the second largest river on the island of Luzon in the Philippines (next to Cagayan River) and the country's fifth longest river. It is in the Central Luzon region and traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, and Nuev ...
. It then passes through residential areas and institutions within the municipalities of
Arayat,
Santa Ana, and
Mexico before entering San Fernando. The road turns west at the Santo Domingo Circle in Santa Ana and turns south at its intersection with Arayat–Mexico Road in Mexico ''
poblacion
''Poblacion'' (literally "town" or "settlement" in Spanish; ) is the common term used for the administrative center, central, downtown, old town or central business district area of a Philippine city or municipality, which may take up the a ...
''. In The
SM City Pampanga and
Robinson Robinson may refer to:
People and names
* Robinson (name)
Fictional characters
* Robinson Crusoe, the main character, and title of a novel by Daniel Defoe, published in 1719
Geography
* Robinson projection, a map projection used since the 1960s ...
Starmills malls can be seen on a boundary between Mexico and City of San Fernando. It intersects with
North Luzon Expressway after passing these two malls. It crosses MacArthur Highway through Dolores Flyover, continues on a straight route, with its city proper being visible from the highway, with another flyover named Lazatin Flyover through Lazatin Boulevard. A few meters past the flyover is San Fernando Central Transport Terminal. The city's welcome sign could be located on this portion and after it, the highway enters
Bacolor
Bacolor, officially the Municipality of Bacolor ( pam, Balen ning Bakúlud; tgl, Bayan ng Bacolor), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 48,066 people.
Bacolor ...
.
Bacolor to Olongapo
Upon entering Bacolor, the road turns eastward and passes through the
lahar-filled Pasig-Potrero River. It passes through Bacolor town proper, with its
parish church being visible from the highway. It continues on a straight direction, intersects with Guagua-Santa Rita Provincial Road and San Antonio-Siran Road, turns westward, and enters
Lubao
Lubao, officially the Municipality of Lubao ( pam, Balen ning Lubao; fil, Bayan ng Lubao), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 173,502 people.
It is noted f ...
after passing the second road mentioned before. It continues straightforward, passing through residential areas and establishments within the municipality and parallels the Lubao Old National Road. It then enters
Bataan
Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the enti ...
through the Pampanga Welcome marker and traverses the municipalities of
Hermosa and
Dinalupihan
Dinalupihan, officially the Municipality of Dinalupihan ( tl, Bayan ng Dinalupihan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 118,209 people.
Dinalupihan, the only ...
, where it turns right at the Layac Junction. It then bypasses the ''poblacion'', turns westward, and crosses below the
Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). It then parallels into it, continues on a straight direction, passings through barangays San Benito, Colo, Naparing, Happy Valley, and Roosevelt National Park Protected Area, and the eastern end of
Subic Freeport Expressway. It enters
Zambales
Zambales, officially the Province of Zambales ( fil, Lalawigan ng Zambales; ilo, Probinsia ti Zambales; Pangasinan: ''Luyag/Probinsia na Zambales''; xsb, Probinsya nin Zambales), is a province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon re ...
a few meters after the said exit and continues on a zigzag pattern before passing through residential areas within Olongapo. The road then enters the city proper of Olongapo, where it is locally known as Rizal Avenue, and continues towards National Highway (
N306) at its terminus at the Ulo ng Apo Rotonda.
Intersections
Landmarks
The Jose Abad Santos Avenue spans for about 118 kilometers, thus, many establishments and landmarks are built alongside the highway. This landmarks are malls, historical sites, government facilities, and many more other establishments. Two major shopping malls along the road are
SM City Pampanga, the second largest mall in Northern and Central Luzon, and Robinsons Starmills Pampanga.
References
{{Major roads in Pampanga
Roads in Pampanga
Roads in Nueva Ecija
Roads in Bataan
Roads in Zambales