Barangay Malinao

Barangay Malinao is a small barangay in the municipality of Santa Cruz, located in the province of Laguna, in the CALABARZON region of the Philippines.

According to the 2020 Philippine census, Barangay Malinao had a population of 751. This made it the 23rd largest of 26 barangays in Santa Cruz by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Malinao accounted for approximately 0.61% of the total population of Santa Cruz, which stood at 123,574 in the same census year.

Census comparisons between 2015 and 2020 show Barangay Malinao moving from 736 residents to 751 residents, an intercensal change of +2.0%. The trajectory indicates a growing community. Barangay Malinao is officially classified as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Santa Cruz is a municipality comprising 26 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Malinao, 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 Malinao ranks 517th 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.

Like every Philippine barangay, Barangay Malinao 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.