WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 ("EPIRA"), declared as a policy of the State to 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 products in the global market; and to protect the public interest as it is affected by the rates and services of electric utilities and other providers of electric power;