A Geospatial Analytical Framework for Assessing Land Use and Zoning Compliance: The Case of Zamboanga City

Abstract. The Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) mandates Philippine local government units (LGUs) to formulate and implement Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and Zoning Ordinances (ZOs). However, insufficient monitoring frameworks and limited institutional capacity have resulted in widespread land use violations, including the conversion of prime agricultural lands, encroachment into protected areas, and other forms of environmental degradation. To address this gap, this study proposes a geospatial analytical framework that integrates ESRI Land Cover datasets with zoning maps, utilizing Python-based workflows and open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for land use and zoning compliance assessment. Zamboanga City, characterized by a ridge-to-reef landscape and rapid urban expansion, serves as the study area. A compliance matrix was developed to classify land cover–zoning relationships into four categories: Allowed, Allowed Atypical, Conditionally Allowed, and Not Allowed. Analysis revealed that between 2017 and 2023, Not Allowed areas increased by 49.55% (429 ha), and Conditionally Allowed areas by 80.51% (1,588.53 ha), indicating growing encroachment and intensified land utilization in regulated zones. Temporal analysis further identified patterns of zoning compliance, underutilization, and persistent violations, with the overall compliance rate for the city at 85.04%. These findings underscore the moderate adherence to zoning regulations and highlight the urgent need for improved monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. The proposed framework offers a scalable, data-driven tool for spatial policy evaluation and provides valuable insights for evidence-based urban planning and governance in LGUs.