Barangay Santa Cruz

Situated in Placer, Surigao Del Norte, Barangay Santa Cruz is one of 20 barangays that make up the municipality within Caraga.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Cruz had a population of 3,174. This made it the 2nd largest of 20 barangays in Placer by population, placing it among the most populous barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Cruz accounted for approximately 10.72% of the total population of Placer, which stood at 29,616 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Santa Cruz moving from 2,616 residents to 3,174 residents, an intercensal change of +21.3%. 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.

Placer is a municipality comprising 20 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 Surigao Del Norte, which contains 335 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Cruz ranks 31st by 2020 population. Surigao Del Norte is classified as a 2nd by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, a category that reflects the province's annual regular income.

The barangay's legislative and executive affairs are handled by a Punong Barangay and the Sangguniang Barangay, elected nationwide during the Barangay and SK Elections. The next BSKE is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, following the synchronized election schedule set by COMELEC Resolution No. 11191.