Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Last week, The Adobo Chronicles reported that Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino rejected the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, claiming that he was “under the weather” with a cold.

Today, the Office of the President announced that Aquino has also refused to take the MRT Challenge.

MRT (Metro Manila Rail Transit System) is a rapid transit line in Metro Manila along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).  Envisioned in the 1970s as part of the Metropolitan Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development Plan, the thirteen-station, 16.9-kilometer (10.5 miles) line was the second rapid transit line to be built in Metro Manila when it started operations in 1999. It is operated by  a private company operating in partnership with the  Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Serving close to 600,000 passengers daily, MRT’s total ridership significantly exceeds the line’s built maximum capacity and experts have questioned the line’s structural integrity.

In recent days, public officials have been challenged to ride the MRT in order to experience first-hand the long queues, overcrowding, delays and technical problems that ordinary commuters face every single day.

Several public officials, including Senator Grace Poe and DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya , have taken up the challenge.  Filipinos have been clamoring for Aquino to take the challenge.

In announcing that Aquino has refused to take the MRT Challenge, a presidential spokesperson said that the president is suffering from claustrophobia (fear of being in an enclosed environment) and agoraphobia (fear of being in crowded places).  “It is not in his best interest nor the best interest of the country for him to take up the challenge.” the spokesperson said.

“It will also be very difficult for the president,  a known chain-smoker, to ride the MRT trains where smoking is prohibited,” he added.