Barangay Melilia

Barangay Melilia is a small barangay in the municipality of Santa Cruz, located in the province of Davao Del Sur, in the Davao Region region of the Philippines.

According to the 2020 Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Barangay Melilia had a population of 880. This made it the 17th largest of 18 barangays in Santa Cruz by population, placing it among the smaller barangays of the municipality. Residents of Barangay Melilia accounted for approximately 0.87% of the total population of Santa Cruz, which stood at 101,125 in the same census year.

The barangay recorded 810 residents in the 2015 intercensal count and 880 residents in the 2020 Census — a net change of +8.6%, consistent with a growing settlement. The Philippine Statistics Authority classifies Barangay Melilia as rural, a designation applied to barangays with lower population density and predominantly non-built-up land use.

Santa Cruz is a municipality comprising 18 barangays, and serves as the governing unit directly responsible for local services in Barangay Melilia, including public health, sanitation, peace and order, and civil registration. Within the wider province of Davao Del Sur, which contains 414 barangays across its component cities and municipalities, Barangay Melilia ranks 195th by 2020 population. Davao Del Sur 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 Melilia 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.