WHEREAS, under Section 2 of R.A. No. 7638, otherwise known as the "Department of Energy Act of 1992", it is declared the policy of the State to ensure a continuous, adequate, reliable, and economic supply of energy through, among others, the judicious conservation, renewal and efficient utilization of energy, to keep pace with the country's growth and economic development; WHEREAS, it is imperative that long-term measures be adopted to minimize if not forestall any adverse effect of the crude price increases on the country's essential economic activities;