• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Residents of Barangay Canlusong, the farthest barangay from the town proper of E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, now have a permanent, weather-protected venue for community gatherings, sports activities, and public services.
The village’s P5.25-million covered court was inaugurated on Nov. 12 in a ceremony led by Third District Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez, with Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon and Vice Mayor Marvin Malacon.
Funded through an allocation under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the facility features a 16 by 30-meter covered court and a six by four-meter stage.
It is expected to benefit the barangay’s 1,539 residents living across nine sitios.
Before the facility was constructed, residents relied on the barangay multi-purpose hall, chapel, and an open basketball court for community activities. These venues often proved inadequate for large gatherings while outdoor events were frequently affected by extreme heat and sudden rains.
The new covered court has already served as a venue for several community activities, including the Barangay Assembly Day in March and the annual fiesta in May, which featured a basketball league and giant volleyball games.
It has also accommodated barangay meetings, medical missions, blood donation activities, and distribution of food packs during calamities.
Aside from providing a venue for sports and celebrations, the facility is expected to strengthen the barangay’s delivery of public services, particularly health programs and emergency relief operations, by offering residents a sheltered and accessible gathering place.
Canlusong is predominantly an agricultural community, with residents engaged in the cultivation of rice, coconut, tiger grass, sugarcane, coffee, and various fruit crops. Some households also earn additional income through honey production while the barangay is known for its locally produced Canlusong coffee. | GPB
