Assessing Institutional Readiness and Willingness of Philippine LGUs to Adopt Geospatial Land Use Monitoring Tools

Abstract. Land use planning and monitoring are central to sustainable development, yet many Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines face limited technical capacity, outdated tools, and weak institutional systems. This study assessed the institutional willingness and capacity of LGUs to adopt geospatial land use monitoring technologies using six indicators: Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) status, GIS capacity, remote sensing capacity, enforcement tools, data management systems, and willingness to adopt new technologies. Expert-derived weights for these indicators, elicited through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with DHSUD central and regional staff, were applied to compute readiness scores from a nationwide survey of 666 LGUs. Findings show that most LGUs fall within the Transitioning category, with fewer classified as Advanced and only a small number Limited. Weighted readiness scores cluster between 0.5 and 0.6, with GIS and remote sensing capacities particularly low (41.75% and 12.31%), though willingness to adopt is high at 84%. The readiness score distribution is left-skewed, suggesting that most LGUs already demonstrate moderate-to-high capacity and are closer to readiness than not. Radar chart analysis highlights uneven progress: CLUP updating and willingness are strong, while gaps persist in remote sensing, data management, and enforcement. Viewed through the IAD framework, these patterns underscore how institutional rules, resources, and organizational arrangements influence LGU performance, with structural bottlenecks limiting adoption. Recommendations include: foundational training and shared services for Limited LGUs; structured pathways for Transitioning LGUs to integrate geospatial monitoring; incentives and peer-learning platforms for Advanced LGUs; and embedding readiness-based pathways into national policy.