WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to ensure and accelerate the total electrification of the country;

WHEREAS, Section 59 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001” or “EPIRA,” has opened to other Qualified Third Parties (QTPs) the provision of electric service in remote and unviable areas that the franchised Distribution Utility is unable to service;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 13 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of “EPIRA” or “EPIRA-IRR,” the Department of Energy (DOE) is tasked to issue specific guidelines on how to encourage the inflow of private capital and the manner whereby other parties can participate in the missionary electrification projects set forth in the Missionary Electrification Development Plan (MEDP); WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 14 of the EPIRA-IRR, the DOE shall set the criteria for determining QTPs that may participate in providing electricity to remote and unviable areas which may include financial, technical, environmental, and other indices of performance; WHEREAS, the DOE deems it appropriate to broaden its approach to rural and missionary electrification through the creation of a market-based environment that is conducive to private sector investment and participation and encourages technology transfer, and research and development; NOW, THEREFORE, FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING PREMISES, the DOE hereby promulgates the following guidelines setting out the qualification criteria for the determination of QTPs that may be authorized to participate in missionary electrification program of the Government as set out in the EPIRA and its IRRs.