A MEMORANDUM of understanding was signed on Wednesday formalizing the participation of the Dagupan-based Lyceum Northwestern University to the ongoing Sustainable Sanitation for East Asia (SUSEA) Program, with Dagupan as one of the pilot area.

Funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), SUSEA is also being implemented in Bauko, Mt. Province, Guian in Eastern Samar, General Santos City and Polomolok in South Cotabato; and Alabel, Saranggani.

The MOU was signed by LNU President Gonzalo Duque, former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, team leader of the Technical Assistance and Management Systems (TAMS) which is implementing the Philippine component; and Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

SUSEA is a project administered by the World Bank under its Water and Sanitation Program-East Asia and the Pacific (WSP-EAP).

The program was launched in Dagupan in August this year with the gathering of base data concerning health and sanitation in pilot barangays of the city.

LNU was considered by the Australian-based agency Coffey International Developmetn and TAMS as partner in their research-related endeavors, independent from the Dagupan City government.

Dr. Eugene Reyes, director of LNU’s Research and Development Management Office (RMDO), said SUSEA seeks to initiate a sustainable sanitation program in the Philippines to support increased access by poor Filipinos to sanitation services.