Santa Cruz, Laguna

Municipality of Santa Cruz Bayan ng Santa Cruz
—  Municipality  —
Seal
Map of Laguna showing the location of Santa Cruz
Municipality of Santa Cruz Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°16′43″N 121°24′56″E / 14.27861°N 121.41556°E / 14.27861; 121.41556Coordinates: 14°16′43″N 121°24′56″E / 14.27861°N 121.41556°E / 14.27861; 121.41556
Country	Philippines
Region	CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
Province	Laguna
District	4th District of Laguna
Founded	1602
Barangays	26
Government
– Mayor	Domingo "Dennis" G. Panganiban
Area
– Total	38.59 km2 (14.9 sq mi)
Population (2007)
– Total	101,914
– Density	2,640.9/km2 (6,840/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	4009
Income class	1st

Population Census of Santa Cruz
Census	Pop.		Rate
1995	86,978		—
2000	92,694		1.38%
2007	101,914		1.32%

Santa Cruz is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is also the capital town of the province of Laguna. According to the latest census, it has a population of 101,914 people in 19,627 households and with a growth rate of 1.37%). Projected population for 2009 is 104,615.

Santa Cruz is situated on the banks of the Santa Cruz River which course its way along the eastern part of the famous Laguna de Bay. The town is bounded by the Bay on the north, by Lumban and Pagsanjan towns in the east, Pagsanjan and Magdalena towns in the south, and Pila and Liliw towns in the west. It is approximately 87 kilometers from Manila via Calamba and 105 km via Pililla, in the province of Rizal. It is accessible by land from the nearby 28 municipalities and by water through Laguna de Bay from Manila and some Rizal towns.

Santa Cruz is considered as the service and commercial center on the eastern part of the province. The town is composed of five barangays in the Poblacion area and 21 classified urban barangays. Although relatively far from the immediate urbanizing influence of Metropolitan Manila, Santa Cruz continues to progress. It is now classified as first class municipality. The present administration is headed by the Honorable Mayor Dennis Panganiban. Santa Cruz is also the seat of the provincial government since 1885, giving the municipality an additional administrative function over the entire province. It also functions as the service center for transportation, commerce, health, education, and other social services for the predominantly rural northeastern municipalities of the province. Boosting the economy of the municipality are the incipient and fast growing agribusiness industries such as livestock raising, horticulture and aquaculture. The town is composed of twenty-six (26) urban barangays. All barangays are being classified as urban.

The development of Santa Cruz as the administrative, commercial, and service center of Laguna makes it accessible for all private/public vehicles going to nearby places particularly Pagsanjan, Lake Caliraya, Liliw, Paete and Nagcarlan.

History

During the last decade of the 16th century, Santa Cruz, the premier town of Laguna was once a well populated barrio of the present municipality of Lumban, as well as other contemporary towns like Pagsanjan, Cavinti, Paete and Pangil. In 1602, Santa Cruz separated from Lumban and became a pueblo with its church and local government.

It is a town which since its foundation in 1602, had been ravaged by calamitous forces such as fires, typhoons, floods and human vandalism during the Philippine Revolution of 1896-1899, the war of the Philippine Independence (1899–1902), Battle of Santa Cruz the assault of the Tulisanes (bandits) during the Spanish times, and the beginning to the Filipino troops of the pre-war 4th and 42nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and recognized guerrillas from the Second Battle of Santa Cruz on January 26, 1945. Santa Cruz survived all these disastrous calamities , for it is patiently resilient as the durable bamboos and as indestructible as the Rock of all Ages.

Characterized by fertile flat lands situated along the coastal plains of Laguna de Bay, the economic base of the town had been traditionally anchored on two primary industries, namely agriculture and fishing which still remain up to the present. In view of the strategic location of Santa Cruz relative to the other coastal settlements about the lake, trading activities have likewise rooted on the town during those early settlement days. The town proper which has always been the focal point of activities used to be accessible to the other lake-shore areas due to the navigable Santa Cruz River aside from the Laguna de Bay itself. Since those early days, water is the principal mode of transportation.

Today, Santa Cruz serves as the capital of Laguna and is considered as the business and commercial center on the eastern part of the province.^[1]

Natural and Physical Characteristics

Geographic Location and Land Area

Situated at the central portion of Laguna province along the southeastern coast of Laguna de Bay, the Municipality of Santa Cruz lies approximately 87 kilometers southeast of Metro Manila via Calamba and is geographically located at approximately 14 degrees 17' latitude and 121 degrees 25' longitude. The municipality is bounded on the north and northwest by Laguna de Bay, on the northeast by Lumban, on the east by Pagsanjan, on the southeast by Magdalena , on the south by Liliw,, and on the southwest by Pila. It has 26 barangays and covers approximate land area of 3860 hectares which comprises about 2% of the total land area of Laguna Province.

• Land Area: 3,860 Hect.
• Residential: 381.97
• Commercial: 35.96
• Institutional: 92.17
• Functional Open Space: 31.27
• Roads: 157.73
• Total Built-up: 696.10
• Agricultural: 3,048.57
• Special Use: 115.33

Climate

Like most areas in the province of Laguna, the climate of Santa Cruz is characterized by two pronounced seasons: dry from January to April and wet during the rest of the year. The municipality has annual temperature of 27.2 degree Celsius and annual rainfall of 1962.7mm. Northeasterly winds with an average wind speed of 9 knots prevail in the municipality.

Hydrogeologic Characteristics

The two types of rocks found in Santa Cruz are alluvium and clastic rocks. Clastic rocks are located at the eastern portion of the municipality specifically in Barangay Alipit , San Jose, Oogong, Jasaan, San Juan, Palasan, and portions of Barangays Pagsawitan, Patimbao, Bubukal, Labuin and Malinao. These rocks consist of inter-bedded shale and sandstone with occasional thin lenses of limestone, tuff, and reworked sandy tuffs, calcareous sandstone and partly tuffaceous shale.

Economy

Annual Income

• 2008 — 160,196,679.38
• 2007 — 135,792,097.46
• 2006 — 128,812,429.41
• 2005 — 117,351,293.14

Commerce

Santa Cruz Public Market viewed from Regidor Street near Santisima Elementary School

Being the provincial capital of Laguna, Santa Cruz serves as service center of the province particularly for the municipalities on its northeastern part. As such, the town is expected to continue to fulfill this established role in the years to come.

Trade and commerce shall remain to be one of the primary economic activities in the locality. The presence of jeepney services plying Lumban, Paete, Siniloan, San Pablo, Pila, Victoria, Cavinti-Caliraya, Luisiana, Majayjay, Calumpang, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, and Calamba has further enhanced the municipality's role as a commerce and trade center.

The center of business activities is in the poblacion specifically at Barangay V where the four (4) buildings of Public Market is situated. Within this vicinity are the MOTORWORLD Sales Center, Joy Supermarket, Centro Department Store, and Goodwill Supermarket. Development in this vicinity has been a quasi-residential commercial type as manifested by the proliferation of structures which are used both for business and residential purposes by the proprietors/owners. There is also concentration of business establishments at the section of the national highway/expressway especially Barangay Gatid where the Sunstar Mall is located, and the abandoned PNR Railway (road) while a strip pattern of commercial development is noticeable along the Quezon Avenue and along the old highway and Pedro Guevarra Avenue.

Santa Cruz has many establishment that contribute to its development.

Sterling Paper Group of Companies, which started as maker of photo albums and stationery is now a conglomerate of a successful business ranging from greeting cards, school and office supplies, toys to real estate and agri-business.

Educational Establishments

Elementary (Primary & Intermediate): Public: 16 - Private: 11

High School: Public: 2 - Private: 6

College: Public: 2 - Private: 8

Vocational: Public: 1 - Private: 2

Kindergarten School: Public: 35 - Private: 10

Students:
Elementary — 15,291
High School — 8,155
Tertiary — 10,914

• Basic Christian International School and Special Education Center, Inc.
• ACTS Computer College
• AMA Computer University[1]
• AMA Computer Learning Center
• Capitol View Christian School
• Immaculate Conception Catholic College
• Laguna Santiago Educational Foundation Inc.
• Laguna State Polytechnic University
• Our Lady of Maulawin Educational Foundation, Inc
• Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School - Alumni
• Philippine Women's University
• STI College
• St. Therese Martin of Lisieux School and Business High School
• United Evangelical Church School
• Union College of Laguna[2]
• University of the East — soon to rise
• Southbay Montessori School
• GOAL-DEN Learners Center

Hospitals

Private Hospitals: 5 Rural Health Units: 2 Government Hospital: 1 Health Centers: 26

• Laguna Doctors Hospital
• Laguna Provincial Hospital
• Laguna Holy Family Hospital
• Jesus the Saviour Hospital

Activities

Santa Cruz may not have natural tourist spots and no wide areas to develop but one thing the townsmen of Santa Cruz are proud of are the local foods available in the town. Santa Cruz boasts of the famous white cheese or kesong puti, freshly made from carabao's milk.

• Kesong Puti Festival — March 19-27, 2011
• La Laguna Festival (formerly Anilag Festival) — April 10–17, 2010

Barangays

Santa Cruz is politically subdivided into 26 barangays.

Alipit Bagumbayan Bubukal Calios Duhat Gatid Jasaan Labuin Malinao Oogong Pagsawitan Palasan Patimbao

Barangay I (Pob.) Barangay II (Pob.) Barangay III (Pob.) Barangay IV (Pob.) Barangay V (Pob.) San Jose San Juan San Pablo Norte San Pablo Sur Santisima Cruz Santo Angel Central Santo Angel Norte Santo Angel Sur

References

1. ^ COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN SANTA CRUZ, LAGUNA PLANNING PERIOD : 2000 - 2010 % PREPARED BY THE: MUNICIPAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF k. SANTA CRUZ, LACUNA JUNE 2000

External links

• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• 1995 Philippine Census Information
• 2000 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• 2007 Philippine Census Information
• [3]