Barangay Santa Cruz

Barangay Santa Cruz is a small barangay in the municipality of San Pascual, located in the province of Masbate, in the Bicol Region region of the Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Santa Cruz had a population of 1,945. This made it the 10th largest of 22 barangays in San Pascual by population, placing it in the middle tier of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Santa Cruz accounted for approximately 4.38% of the total population of San Pascual, which stood at 44,449 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 1,879 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 1,945 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +3.5%, consistent with a growing 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.

San Pascual is a municipality comprising 22 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 Masbate, which contains 550 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Santa Cruz ranks 142nd by 2020 population. Masbate 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.