# Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur

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.

## Etymology

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

Santa Cruz is 333 kilometres (207 mi) from Metro Manila and 74 kilometres (46 mi) from Vigan City, the provincial capital. It is bordered by the municipalities of Santa Lucia and Salcedo to the north, Sigay and Suyo to the east, and Tagudin to the south

### Barangays

Santa Cruz is politically subdivided into 49 barangays.  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) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

| 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% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1970 | 20,459 | +1.89% |
| 1975 | 22,688 | +2.10% |
| 1980 | 23,027 | +0.30% |
| 1990 | 28,764 | +2.25% |
| 1995 | 30,145 | +0.88% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2000 | 34,433 | +2.89% |
| 2007 | 35,906 | +0.58% |
| 2010 | 37,911 | +2.00% |
| 2015 | 39,868 | +0.96% |
| 2020 | 41,366 | +0.73% |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority :
In the 2020 census, Santa Cruz had a population of 41,366. The population density was 470 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,200/sq mi).

## 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

## Government
### Local government

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