The Sustainable Sanitation Center (SuSan Center) is a multidisciplinary convergence center of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan involving the 3 Xavier University Colleges: School of Medicine, College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture.

The SUSAN center is committed to a science-based and multi-sectoral engagement in sustainable sanitation aiming to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment and promoting human dignity for peaceful and sustainable development in Mindanao, the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian region. The SUSAN centers core activities include capacity development of communities, policy makers and other institutions on sustainable sanitation and to support the development and implementation of various sustainable sanitation technology solutions.

The XU Sustainable Sanitation Center was formally launched in June 2010 manifesting the strong existing collaboration between the School of Medicine and the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering of Xavier University. The SUSAN Center draws on the knowledge of the former Peri-Urban Vegetable Project (PUVeP), which has been active in the field of urban agriculture and reuse-oriented sanitation for many years. The SUSAN Center is an autonomous unit under the umbrella of the Research and Social Outreach Cluster of the University.

The SUSAN Center’s programmatic focus is on the safe use of urine and feces in agricultural production, public health implications of sustainable sanitation systems, sustainable sanitation technology design and capacity development.

Vision

A clean and healthy environment through sustainable sanitation

Mission

A holistic science-based interdisciplinary center under the Jose P. Rizal School of Medicine committed to a multi - sectoral engagement to promote sustainable sanitation in order to achieve human dignity and peaceful sustainable development

Goal

1. To build capacities of communities and policy makers on sustainable sanitation, water management, and post – disaster sanitation solutions.
2. To conduct research on sustainable sanitation, water management, and post – disaster sanitation solutions.
3. To initiate the development and implementation of various sustainable sanitation technology solutions.
4. To provide expertise to government and other institutions both local and international in aid of legislation.
5. To develop the capacity of future doctors to prevent diseases related to water and sanitation especially after disasters.
6. To provide a venue for expertise – based internships on sustainable sanitation, water management and sanitation solutions after a disaster for local and international students.