Dalton Pass declared a national shrine

MANILA, Philippines – In a move seen to boost tourism in Nueva Vizcaya, President Aquino has signed into law a bill declaring the Balete Pass, also known as Dalton Pass, a national shrine.

Under the law signed last week, the Balete Pass National Shrine will be administered and maintained by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

The Balete Pass in Sta. Fe town was the site of encounters between Allied forces and Japanese troops during World War II.

The site was named after Gen. James Leo Dalton II of the US Army’s 25th Division, who was killed in a sniper attack on May 16, 1945. Close to 10,000 Japanese, American, Chinese and Filipino troops died in the area.