Meralco’s Maria Luisa Alvendia Named Among Top 100 Women in Global Logistics

In a field long dominated by men and fraught with systemic hurdles—from archipelagic logistics to outdated infrastructure—the Philippines has found a formidable trailblazer in Maria Luisa V. Alvendia, Meralco’s Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer.

Breaking Barriers in the Supply Chain: Maria Luisa V. Alvendia, Meralco’s Senior VP and Chief Supply Chain Officer, is the only Filipina included in Supply Chain Digital’s Top 100 Women 2025. I Photo: Meralco

This year, Alvendia etched her name in global history as the only Filipina included in the Top 100 Women 2025 list by Supply Chain Digital, a prestigious recognition honoring the world’s most innovative and transformative women leaders in logistics and procurement.

With over 30 years of experience in the field, Alvendia’s recognition is not just a personal milestone—it is a national moment of pride and a spotlight on the evolving role of Filipino women in C-suite leadership.

Her inclusion in the list underscores her pivotal role in revolutionizing supply chain management at the country’s largest electricity distribution utility.

“As CSCO of Meralco, she expertly manages procurement transformation to embrace global practices whilst steering the company towards a sustainable supply chain future,” Supply Chain Digital emphasized.

At the heart of this transformation is the Meralco Supplier Sustainability Scorecard (MS3), an award-winning tool introduced under Alvendia’s leadership. MS3 integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance into supplier evaluations, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Global Reporting Initiative standards.

The tool earned Meralco a Gold Stevie at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for “Building Sustainable Supply Chains”—a testament to its impact and innovation.

In a country often dubbed a “logistics nightmare” due to geographic fragmentation, port congestion, regulatory red tape, and high costs (logistics accounts for 27.5% of GDP), Alvendia’s work stands out.

She champions digital transformation and sustainability to create a more resilient and efficient supply chain—a feat that is especially challenging, yet increasingly critical, in the Philippine context.

“For us to thrive in this ever-evolving space, we must adopt and embrace developments in technology and sustainability,” Alvendia said.

Her leadership goes beyond process improvement—it’s about people. Alvendia has fostered a culture of meaningful engagement among suppliers while upholding integrity and alignment with Meralco’s core values.

Her work serves as a benchmark not just for the utility sector, but for the broader logistics and supply chain industry grappling with gender diversity and digital transformation.

Globally, women make up about 41% of the supply chain workforce, but only 26% of C-suite roles. In the Philippines, women hold 38% of CEO positions across sectors, the highest rate in Asia.

Yet, within logistics specifically, female representation at the executive level remains limited—often concentrated in functional roles like HR and IT rather than revenue-driving or operational leadership positions.

Alvendia defies that norm. As a Filipina at the forefront of a male-dominated sector, she exemplifies what is possible when excellence, innovation, and purpose meet.

Her global recognition isn’t just a personal victory—it’s an inspiration for women across the archipelago and a challenge to the industry to do better, innovate faster, and lead more inclusively.

As the global supply chain continues to evolve, Maria Luisa V. Alvendia reminds us that the future is not only digital or sustainable—it is also decisively female.