WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), declared it the policy of the State to: (i) ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power; (ii) protect the public interest as it is affected by the rates and services of electric utilities and other providers of electric power; and (iii) establish a strong and purely independent regulatory body and system to ensure consumer protection and enhance the competitive operation of the electricity market;