Dr. Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava, Professor and former Dean of the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management, is this year’s recipient of the 2024 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos Award. The Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos is the country’s most prestigious career-service award in the academe, military, and police sectors.

Dubbed “Los Baños’ Environmental Crusader,” Dr. Eslava provides expertise in the field of Geology, particularly working on climate change impacts, adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management, bio-geology, environmental geology, geologic hazards, geochemistry, paleomagnetism, and tectonics. 

As an educator, she made significant contributions by mentoring and inspiring students and staff through teaching, conducting impactful research, and extension services. She has also shown exemplary leadership skills through her contributions to environmental science. 

Dr. Eslava served as the Dean of SESAM for two consecutive terms, from 2015 to 2021. She also served for two consecutive terms as President of the Geological Society of the Philippines (GSP) and is also the current president of the Philippine Environmental Science Association, Inc. (PESA). She was also recognized as UP Scientist and has also served as a Division Chair for the  Earth and Space Sciences of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP)  for two terms, from 2013-2017, and led the work on the formulation of the National Basic Research Agenda for the Environmental Sciences. 

Dr. Eslava was also conferred the Achievement Award for Earth and Space Sciences by the DOST NRCP in 2019 and by the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations – Council for the Built and Natural Environments the Distinction Award for the Geologist Profession in 2020. She is also a Curator for the Special Collections for Geology of the Museum of Natural History at UPLB. With her work on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Dr. Eslava was recently recognized as one of six finalists, out of 425 nominations, for the 2023 Women’s International Network for DRRM (WIN DRRM) Excellence Award. The WIN DRRM is the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s flagship women’s leadership initiative. 

The organizers announced the winners on 06 August 2024. Dr. Eslava, along with three other educators, three military officers, and three police officers, will receive the award on 04 September 2024 at The Grand Ballroom Grand Hyatt Manila, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

The annual excellence recognition program honors exemplary Filipino teachers, soldiers, and police officers whose contributions to their professional service and respective communities are worthy of emulation.

It is with great pride and honor for the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management that Dr. Eslava will be receiving this prestigious award. #JOAquino-Cando and RLDADimasuay