THE Capas National Shrine (CNS) has officially received the land title for the 50-hectare property it occupies at present.

Officials of the Philippine Veteran Affairs Office (PVAO), headed by Administrator Undersecretary Ernestro Carolina, formally recieved the special patent for the CNS from Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Engineer Darwin Campo, curator of the Capas shrine, said the event on May 26 was dubbed Gawad Titulo for the turn over of the 500,001-square meter military reservation to the CNS situated in Barangay Aranguren in Capas town, Tarlac province.

The shrine was built by the Philippine government to honor the heorism of Filipino and American soldiers who fought against the Japanese Imperial Army and endured the grueling days of the Bataan Death March during the World War II.

Carolina said the land title or special patent of CNS is like a diploma hardly earned by a student.

He added that the shrine's proof of ownership may now be presented to prospective investors and government entities for support and improvement of the shrine.

Carolina said CNS is the first national park in Tarlac that received its title among the 10 declared military shrines in Central Luzon PVAO handles.

"Today is the day to be joyful and hopeful that this first special patent that we received would spur the development of these shrines which we call love for country builders where our children can go, recall the memories of the war, and recall the images of heroism, bravery and gallantry of our veterans," he added.

Campo thanked the local government unit of Capas, headed by Mayor Reynaldo L. Catacutan, for its assistance in the processing of requirements for the land titling.

The shrine curator also mentioned Alma Ayson, head of the Capas Assessor's Office, for her effort.

CNS was under the administrative jurisdiction of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) of Tarlac and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of Capas.

The land title was processed at Penro and Cenro under the provisions of Section 4 -- Special Patents of Republic Act 10023 (An Act Authorizing the Issuance of Free Patents to Residential Lands).

Capas National Shrine was declared national park by virtue of Proclamation Number 842 by then President Corazon Aquino on December 7, 1991.

Also present during were Governor Susan Yap; Retired Air Force Colonel Agerico Amagna, chief of the Veterans Memorial and Historical Division; and other officials.

PVAO is under the Department of National Defense.