As the president and CEO of Sta Elena Construction and Development Corporation (SECDC), Alice Eduardo led her company in a predominantly male-led industry to become a significant player in the country’s infrastructural development sectors. Her secret? She has a sincere connection to every project she works on. “I avoid the mindset that my work is merely a list of contracts,” Eduardo shared. “Every project I cherish as the team’s part in nation building and as fulfilment in my journey as a builder and leader.”

Eduardo has taken on significant projects including the construction of public infrastructure like ports, harbours, bridges, roads and power plants that supply energy to regions across the country. These include three natural gas-fired power plants for the Lopez Group’s First Gas, a total project cost of over US$1.5 billion. With Germany’s Siemens, the UK’s Balfour Beatty and the Netherlands’s Ballast Nedam, Santa Elena constructed the 1,000MW Sta Rita, the 500MW San Lorenzo and the 450MW San Gabriel power plants. “I am proud to say that Santa Elena achieved these in record fashion, including attaining six million safe man hours peaking at 6,000 workers,” she added.

Eduardo is also known for her charity work. In 2014, she funded the PHP20-million construction of the Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) paediatrics isolation ward for cancer patients and a dormitory for patients' relatives. She also supports several non-profit groups: Habitat for Humanity, Go Negosyo, the Philippine Red Cross, Tuloy Foundation and Caritas Manila. Eduardo has also contributed to the building of churches, including the new San Agustin Parish in her hometown of Jaen, Nueva Ecija, and the St Michael the Archangel Church in BGC, Taguig.

Despite the challenges facing the construction industry, which include inflation and supply chain issues, Eduardo continues to do her part as a builder to help the nation expand and develop new renewable energy projects. This will help create jobs, reduce energy costs over the long term and minimise our carbon footprint. Keen to accomplish her duty to the Filipino community, Eduardo continues to prove that her heart is indeed made of gold.