WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9136 entitled, "Electric Industry Reform Act of 2001", otherwise known as the EPIRA, declares as a policy of the State, among others, to ensure the quality, reliability, security, and affordability of supply of electric power, and ensure transparent and reasonable prices of electricity in a regime of free and fair competition and full public accountability to achieve greater operational and economic efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine product in the global market;