Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur

For the other places named "Santa Cruz" in the Philippines, see Santa Cruz (disambiguation).

Santa Cruz (/ˈsæntə ˈkruːz/, officially the Municipality of Santa Cruz (Ilocano: Ili ti Santa Cruz; Filipino: Bayan ng Santa Cruz), is a municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 41,366 people.^[5]

Santa Cruz
Municipality
Municipality of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Municipal Hall
Flag Seal
Map of Ilocos Sur with Santa Cruz highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Santa Cruz Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 17°05′07″N 120°27′19″E
Country	Philippines
Region	Ilocos Region
Province	Ilocos Sur
District	2nd district
Barangays	49 (see Barangays)
Government  [1]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Teresita C. Valle
• Vice Mayor	Virgilio J. Valle
• Representative	Kristine Singson-Meehan
• Municipal Council	Members Cesar D. Javillonar Jeptah Domz J. Gines Fernando M. Javonillo Jr. Renato A. Quilop Nelia S. Gabuat Benjamin A. Guieb Jr. Carlos S. Sumbad Rogelio J. Figuracion
• Electorate	26,840 voters (2025)
Area [2]
• Total	88.78 km2 (34.28 sq mi)
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Highest elevation	221 m (725 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2024 census)[3]
• Total	41,296
• Density	470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
• Households	9,815
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	10.06 % (2021)[4]
• Revenue	PHP 963,771,690.40 million (94.25%) (2021)
• Assets	PHP 2,590,972.460.57 billion (38.22%) (2021)
• Equity	PHP 2,485,844,695.94 billion (42.61%) (2021)
• Expenditure	PHP 220,999,649.15 million (31.27%) (2021)
• Liabilities	PHP 105,127,764.63 million (-20.00%) (2021)
Service provider
• Electricity	Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO)
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	2713
PSGC	0102924000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)77
Native languages	Ilocano Tagalog
Website	stacruz-is.gov.ph

Etymology

Aerial view of Santa Cruz, 1923

The place now known as Santa Cruz was the site where Captain Juan de Salcedo landed to get provisions, especially water, on his way to pacify the north. As soon as they came ashore, his men immediately went to the top of the highest sand dune and planted a big wooden cross to signify that the place has been conquered (like what they did later in Santa Catalina). This cross is visible to mariners passing by, often describing the place as "Santa Cruz." The cross may have vanished, but the name Santa Cruz stuck, especially with natives who became Christians.

Geography

The Municipality of Santa Cruz is bordered by the municipalities of Santa Lucia and Salcedo to the north, Sigay and Suyo to the east, and Tagudin to the south

Santa Cruz is situated 74.27 kilometres (46.15 mi) from the provincial capital Vigan, and 330.48 kilometres (205.35 mi) from the country's capital city of Manila.

Barangays

Santa Cruz is politically subdivided into 49 barangays. ^[6] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

• Amarao
• Babayoan
• Bacsayan
• Banay
• Bayugao Este
• Bayugao Oeste
• Besalan
• Bugbuga
• Calaoaan
• Camanggaan
• Candalican
• Capariaan
• Casilagan
• Coscosnong
• Daligan
• Dili
• Gabor Norte
• Gabor Sur
• Lalong
• Lantag
• Las-ud
• Mambog
• Mantanas
• Nagtengnga
• Padaoil
• Paratong
• Pattiqui
• Pidpid
• Pilar
• Pinipin
• Poblacion Este
• Poblacion Norte
• Poblacion Sur
• Poblacion Weste
• Quinfermin
• Quinsoriano
• Sagat
• San Antonio
• San Jose
• San Pedro
• Saoat
• Sevilla
• Sidaoen
• Suyo
• Tampugo
• Turod
• Villa Garcia
• Villa Hermosa
• Villa Laurencia

Climate

Climate data for Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	30 (86)	31 (88)	33 (91)	34 (93)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	30 (86)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	25 (77)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	24 (74)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	27 (1.1)	31 (1.2)	40 (1.6)	71 (2.8)	207 (8.1)	237 (9.3)	286 (11.3)	261 (10.3)	261 (10.3)	254 (10.0)	88 (3.5)	46 (1.8)	1,809 (71.3)
Average rainy days	9.4	9.3	12.7	17.0	25.4	26.8	27.4	26.1	25.0	21.0	15.5	10.6	226.2
Source: Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)[7]

Demographics

Population census of Santa Cruz

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 8,533 —     1918 12,672 +2.67% 1939 12,948 +0.10% 1948 13,799 +0.71% 1960 16,954 +1.73% 1970 20,459 +1.89%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1975 22,688 +2.10% 1980 23,027 +0.30% 1990 28,764 +2.25% 1995 30,145 +0.88% 2000 34,433 +2.89% 2007 35,906 +0.58%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2010 37,911 +2.00% 2015 39,868 +0.96% 2020 41,366 +0.78% 2024 41,296 −0.04%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[8][9][10][11][12]

In the 2020 census, Santa Cruz had a population of 41,366.^[13] The population density was 470 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,200/sq mi).

Language

The predominant dialect spoken in Santa Cruz is Ilocano.

Economy

Poverty incidence of Santa Cruz

10 20 30 40 50 2000 45.12 2003 20.35 2006 33.20 2009 24.03 2012 21.15 2015 14.74 2018 6.94 2021 10.06 Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Government

Local government

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

Santa Cruz, belonging to the second congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Elected officials

Members of the Municipal Council
(2019–2022)^[22]

Position	Name
Congressman	Kristine Singson-Meehan
Mayor	Teresita C. Valle
Vice-Mayor	Virgilio J. Valle
Councilors	Cesar D. Javillonar
	Jeptah Domz J. Gines
	Fernando M. Javonillo Jr.
	Renato A. Quilop
	Nelia S. Gabuat
	Benjamin A. Guieb Jr.
	Carlos S. Sumbad
	Rogelio J. Figuracion

Education

The Sta. Cruz Schools District Office governs all educational institutions situated within the municipality.^[23]

Primary and elementary schools

• Amarao Elementary School
• Babayoan Elementary School
• Bacsayan Primary School
• Banay Primary School
• Bayugao Primary School
• Besalan Elementary School
• Calaoaan Elementary School
• Caparia-an Elementary School
• Caparia-an UMC Kiddie Center of Excellence
• Daligan Primary School
• Dili Elementary School
• Lantag Elementary School
• Linggawa Primary School
• Nagtenga Elementary School
• Padaoil Elementary School
• Pattiqui-Gabur Sur Elementary School
• Pilar Elementary School
• Pinipin Elementary School
• Quinsoriano Primary School
• Sagat Elementary School
• San Jose Elementary School
• Sevilla Elementary School
• Sidaoen Elementary School
• Sta. Cruz Central School
• Villa Hermosa Elementary School

Secondary schools

• Amarao National High School
• Dili National High School
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Academy (Sevilla)
• Pascual Rivera Pimentel Memorial Academy
• San Jose High School
• Sta. Cruz Institute