kalsada

Kalsada is the Filipino word for a road or street. It refers to a public way designed for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, ranging from rural barangay lanes to urban avenues. The term is borrowed from the Spanish calzada, meaning paving or paved road, reflecting the Philippines' history of Spanish influence. In modern Filipino usage, kalsada denotes both the physical infrastructure and the network of streets within a locality, and it is common in everyday speech as a generic term for traveling routes.

In the Philippines, roads are typically classified and managed by national, provincial, and local governments. National roads are designated as highways or arterials and receive national government funding, while local roads serve municipalities and barangays. Maintenance, paving, and rehabilitation are overseen by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the national level and by local government units at the local level. Issues affecting kalsada include traffic management, road safety, drainage, and road surface conditions, which influence transportation efficiency and disaster resilience.

Historically, the concept of a paved road in the Philippines expanded during the Spanish colonial period and intensified under American and post-war development programs, contributing to the growth of commerce and urban planning. Today, kalsada remains a central element of daily life, infrastructure planning, and mobility in Filipino communities.