Similarly, a government study confirming widespread mercury poisoning in two villages in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, came to light when the Philippine Daily Inquirer released a report on the matter using government data acquired through an FOI request.⁴⁶ The FOI team of the PCOO also cites instances where the system has been used by the various users.⁴⁷ Despite these, reviews of the system remain mixed to this day. FOI advocates note that it is far from the ideal FOI policy needed by the people since it only covers the Executive branch of the government.⁴⁸ It may be possible that most information the public wants disclosed is not covered by the current mechanism.⁴⁹ According to FOI advocates, this fact accounts for the low number of requests received via the eFOI portal. And then there are also the exceptions provided by the EO, which allows for numerous types of information that may be withheld from public access, namely:⁵⁰ information covered by executive privilege; privileged information relating to national security, defense, or international relations; information concerning law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety; information deemed confidential for the protection of the privacy and certain individuals such as minors, victims of crimes or the accused; information, documents, or records known by reason of official capacity and are deemed as confidential, including those submitted or disclosed by entities to government agencies, tribunals and boards or officers, in relation to the performance of their functions or to inquires or investigation conducted by them in the exercise of their administrative, regulatory or quasijudicial powers; prejudicial premature disclosure records of proceedings or information from proceedings which pursuant to law or relevant rules and regulations are treated as confidential or privileged; matters considered confidential under banking and finance laws and their amendatory laws; and other exceptions to the right to information under laws, jurisprudence, and rules and regulations. ⁴⁶ Anda, R. (2017, June 8). Widespread mercury poisoning detected in 2 Palawan villages. Inquirer.net. newsinfo.inquirer.net/903525/widespread-mercurypoisoning-detected-in-2-palawan-villages ⁴⁷www.facebook.com/foiph/photos/a.339930713050402.107 3741828.334084150301725/442333769476762/? type=3&theater See also: www.facebook.com/foiph/photos/a.339930713050402.10737 41828.334084150301725/446112099098929/? type=3&theater See also: www.facebook.com/foiph/photos/a.339930713050402.10737 41828.334084150301725/438630343180438/? type=3&theater ⁴⁸ Salaverria, L. (2017, June 26). Duterte’s FOI order leads to ‘unintended consequences’. Inquirer.net. newsinfo.inquirer.net/908698/dutertes-foi-order-leads-tounintended-consequences. See also: pia.gov.ph/branches-of-govt ⁴⁹ Dagcutan, A. 503 requests on e-FOI portal: 183 denied, 166 granted, 154 pending. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. pcij.org/stories/183-denied-166-granted-154pending/ ⁵⁰ Office of the President of the Philippines. (2016). Inventory of exceptions to Executive Order no. 2 (s.2016). opproper.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Exceptions-toRight-of-Access-to-Information.pdf 7