On October 2, 1948, President Elpidio Quirino issued Executive Order No. 180 establishing classification of roads. By virtue of the presidential order all roads then classified as insular roads; main traffic routes connecting provincial capitals with important commercial centers, national airports, national seaports, and national parks and roads of military importance, which was designated by the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Public Works and Communications. National roads then shall have a right of way of not less twenty meters, provided that a right of way of at least sixty meters shall be reserved for roads constructed through unpatented public land.
In Cebu, these were the roads identified as national roads:
1. Cebu North-Hagnaya Wharf Road (with 106.7 kilometer in length)
2. Cebu South-San Sebastian Wharf Road (with 134.10 kilometer in length
3. Cebu-Toledo Wharf Road (with 40 kilometer in length)
4. Opon-Mactan Road (with 7.50 kilometer in length)
5. Bogo-Polambato Wharf Road (with 2.20 kilometer in length)
6. Dalaguete-Badian Road (with 33.90 kilometer in length)
7. Argao Cadre Road (with .50 kilometer in length)
8. Pinamungahan-Aloguinsan-Mantalongon Road (with 24.40 kilometer in length)
9. Bogo-Medellin Cadre Road (with 16.70 kilometer in length)
10. Toledo-Pinamungahan Cadre Road (with 13.90 kilometer in length)
11. Carcar-Barili-Mantayupan Waterfall Road (with 24.80 kilometer in length)
In Cebu City, the following were identified as national roads:
1. Cebu North Road (with 4.13 kilometer in length)
2. Cebu South Road (with 8.17 kilometer in length)
3. Cebu-Guadalupe Road (with 2.43 kilometer in length)
4. Juan Luna Street (now a portion of President Sergio Osmena Avenue (with .77 kilometer in length)
5. San Jose de la Montana (now Pope John Paul II Avenue)
6. Cebu-Banilad Height Beach Road
7. Cebu-Banilad Height Airport Road
8. Colon St.
9. Sanciangko Street
10. A. Borromeo Street
11. Carlock Street
12. Morga-Comercio St. (now M.C. Briones Avenue)
13. Calderon Street
14. D. Jakosalem St. & Extension to Airport
15. Gorordo Avenue
16. R.R. Landon and Extensions Road
17. Martires St (now M.J. Cuenco Avenue)
18. F. Gonzales St
19. Burgos St.
20. Lapulapu St.
21. Capitol-Gorordo Avenue
22. Civic Center Road
23. Legaspi Extension Road
24. Rafael Palma Street
25. Calles Mabini & Lopez Jaena
26. Wharf roads:
a) Marginal Wharf Road
b) Waterfront Road
c) Mandawe Boulevard
d) Martires St. to Pier 2
e) Martires St. to Pier 3
f) Waterfron (near Madrigal Mills) Road
27. B. Rodriguez and Extensions Road
28. Cebu, Cadre Road
29. Magallanes-Tupas Road
30. Calamba-Tres de Abril St.
The executive order provides that the construction, maintenance and improvement of the National Roads shall be accomplished by the District and City Engineers under the supervision of the Director of Public Works and shall be financed by a national appropriations act.