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As the Philippines grapples with severe flooding, water insecurity, and environmental degradation, a new generation of licensed sanitary engineers from Mapúa University is stepping up to deliver real-world, sustainable solutions for the nation.
Mapúa once again demonstrated its undisputed leadership in engineering education, securing 8 out of the top 10 spots in the August 2026 Sanitary Engineers Licensure Examination (SELE). Mapúa also emerged as the #1 Top Performing School, posting an outstanding 96% passing rate.
Leading the nation’s board passers is Engr. Laurence Jazzel U. Mendoza (1st Place), followed by Engr. Marc Zendrijk V. Pasumbal (2nd Place)—who achieved a back-to-back feat after placing 1st in the March 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination—and Engr. Alexis Marcus Miguel J. Luna (3rd Place). Completing Mapúa’s roster of topnotchers are Engr. Joshua Vergil V. Mandigma (5th Place), Engr. Justine Lar G. Onda (6th Place), Engr. Eduard Jong T. Cortes (7th Place), Engr. Marc Junifiel A. Malabar (8th Place), and Engr. Sarah Jessica O. Gonzales (10th Place).
“We congratulate our new sanitary engineers not just for their academic triumph, but for their commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and CEO of Mapúa University. “I believe they have a bright future in tackling public health and environmental issues that demonstrate the true Mapúan spirit of engineering for the public good.”
Engineering a greener, resilient future
Now offered in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU)—ranked #1 in Innovation in the U.S.—Mapúa’s B.S. Environmental and Sanitary Engineering program empowers future engineers to become excellent stewards of public health, planetary health, and sustainability.
Witnessing the country’s ongoing climate vulnerability, Mapúa’s newest board topnotchers shared how they intend to create a lasting national impact through their profession.
Engr. Mendoza sees purpose in his chosen field: “The usual answer is ‘I want to change the world’ but right now, the goal is to not worsen things. If there is a way to improve the situation and contribute to sustainable development, especially to less developed areas like Palawan, as much as I can then I would do so.”
Engr. Pasumbal meanwhile highlights that he wants to uphold the profession with dignity and integrity: “Sa Civil [Engineering], we work on building structures so sometimes it impacts the environment. With Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, it balances things out because it’s about [protecting natural resources].”
Engr. Luna added that this milestone is aligned with his principles growing up: “If you are one of the best, people tend to listen to you more… Gusto kong maging highly capable, enough to solve real, pressing issues in the field of sanitary engineering.”
Emphasizing that he enjoyed his classes at Mapúa, Engr. Mandigma added, “I hope magampanan ko iyong purpose namin as Sanitary Engineers to protect public health and the environment especially with what’s happening now.” Engr. Onda, on the other hand, admits that he’d like to use this profession to raise awareness in the Philippines: “I’d like to be a part of our country’s movement towards sustainable development.”
Engr. Cortes highlights the interaction of both Civil and Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, noting that, “As a CE (civil engineer), we build the world but as a sanitary engineer, we are to make the world a livable place,” which also aligns with Engr. Malabar’s take that they took an oath “to serve the public and we are to make the world a better place than it already is.”
At the same time, Engr. Gonzales hopes to also become a researcher to “help our engineers in the field since sila iyong mga nakakapag-apply ng principles as practices… hopefully kami pong lahat na current board passers and topnotchers, magampanan po namin iyong magiging role namin sa society not just for the present generation but also for the future ones.”
Applications for A.Y. 2027-2028 Open This September
Widely recognized as the Philippines’ #1 engineering and technological school, Mapúa University is expected to officially open its applications for Academic Year 2027-2028 by the end of September 2026.
Aspiring builders, innovators, and future board topnotchers are invited to begin their academic journey at the home of top engineers. To apply or learn more about Mapúa’s globalized engineering programs, visit mapua.edu.ph.
