Barangay Santa Cruz

Situated in Jaro, Leyte, Barangay Santa Cruz is one of 46 barangays that make up the municipality within Eastern Visayas.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Cruz had a population of 1,541. This made it the 9th largest of 46 barangays in Jaro by population, placing it in the upper half of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Cruz accounted for approximately 3.52% of the total population of Jaro, which stood at 43,758 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,665 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,541 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of -7.4%, consistent with a contracting settlement. 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.

Jaro is a municipality comprising 46 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 Leyte, which contains 1,641 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Cruz ranks 327th by 2020 population. Leyte is classified as a 1st by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Santa Cruz is led by an elected Punong Barangay (barangay captain) supported by seven Sangguniang Barangay members (kagawads), an SK Chairperson, a Barangay Secretary, and a Barangay Treasurer. The next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, with officials serving four-year terms under Republic Act No. 12232.