WHEREAS, Republic Act (RA) No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), Section 2 (b) and (c), declares that it is the policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power; and to ensure the transparent and reasonable prices of electricity in a regime of free and fair competition and full accountability to achieve greater operational and economic efficiency and enhance the competitiveness of Philippine products in the global market;