Apl.de.Ap teams up with ADB, Legacy EV for PH EV training

Filipino-American rapper, singer, and record producer Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas fame, (AKA Alan Pineda Lindo) continues to give back.

After using his platform to improve the education system, creating the DOT’s (Department of Tourism) 2009 jingle, launching a label for emerging local music talents, aiding the Bangsamoro victims, helping visually-impaired children, among others, he is back in the country to equip young Filipinos with technical know-how on electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and maintenance.

Apl.de.Ap, through the Apl.de.Ap Foundation International, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and EV solutions provider Legacy EV. LLC (Legacy EV). The MOU aims to promote programs about clean mobility and e-vehicle training in local schools.

“I’ve done education, scholarship programs, and building schools. Right now, we’re focused on asking ADB to redirect us to the proper schools or private sector to work with,” said Pineda.

The EV education program will kick off in Philippine universities and colleges. The curriculum includes converting gas to electricity, using batteries to power a home, and harnessing energy or connecting to a new car.

“Our interest right now is on education and upskilling. We’re very much into e-mobility. But electrification—even in the United States—for us in the US to achieve electrification, it really requires a skilled workforce,” said APLFI executive director Audie Vergara.

Aside from the traditional educational institutions, the group will create a center of excellence for e-mobility training and development. It aims to provide the technical know-how for jeep owners to modernize their fleet to cleaner and green vehicles.

Now, we’re going to an electric future and the Philippines is starting to have electric cars. We gotta learn to fix them, as well as turn the jeepneys into electric cars,” added Pineda.