Barangay Santa Cruz

Barangay Santa Cruz forms part of Bay, a municipality in Laguna, and is classified as a mid-sized barangay.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Cruz had a population of 2,726. This made it the 13th largest of 15 barangays in Bay by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Cruz accounted for approximately 4.06% of the total population of Bay, which stood at 67,182 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Santa Cruz moving from 2,570 residents to 2,726 residents, an intercensal change of +6.1%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Santa Cruz as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Bay is a municipality comprising 15 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Santa Cruz, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Laguna, which contains 681 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Cruz ranks 312th by 2020 population. Laguna is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Barangay Santa Cruz is governed by an elected Sangguniang Barangay composed of a Punong Barangay and seven kagawads, with the Sangguniang Kabataan representing the youth. The next BSKE, set for Monday, November 2, 2026, will elect officials to four-year terms as provided under Republic Act No. 12232.