Dr. Peñalba is a Professor at the Animal and Dairy Sciences Cluster of the College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). He brings with him an extensive experience in administration having been Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs in UPLB from 1997 until 1999. Other positions he held in UPLB were: Director for Extension (1995-1997) and Director of the Institute of Animal Science (1988-1995).

He had also headed professional and civic organizations including the Philippine Society of Animal Science, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, and Cavite State University Alumni Association. He received the 2007 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Municipal Government of Los Baños for his voluntary service to the municipality. On the same year, he received a Distinguished Alumni Award for Swine Research and Industry Development from the UPLB College of Agriculture Alumni Association.

Dr. Peñalba has authored numerous publications in his several decades as an academic professor and researcher. He has led over 60 researches in his career. He is well published and has researched extensively on livestock and poultry, particularly on pigs, rabbits, and horses.

Dr. Peñalba earned his PhD in animal breeding from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA under a World Bank scholarship; and his MS in animal science (swine production) and BS in agriculture from UPLB.