32 Addressing Inequality During the Pandemic to 35 years old. The leading cause of HIV/AIDS infection or transmission is unprotected sex of men who have sex with men.120 Right to Food 139 At least 50 meat retailers in Balanga, Bataan stopped selling pork at the city’s public market on 05 March 2021 ,as a one-day protest against the price cap imposed by the government. The farm-gate price of pork was already at Php255 a kilo and they were required to sell it for only Php270 a kilo.121 140 Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo is pushing for a congressional probe of NEDA’s recommendations to address persistently high prices of pork by easing import restrictions. She also urges her colleagues to find out what happened to the Agriculture Competitive Enhancement Fund (ACEF), which receives all duties collected from the importation of agricultural products, except rice, in accordance with Republic Act No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act. 122 141 The Department of Agriculture (DA) will start its swine repopulation program with Php600 million allocated for the project. Out of which, Php400 million will be used to distribute “sentinel” piglets to beneficiaries and would include the provision of feeds, veterinary drugs and antiviral agents to assist raisers during the six-month fattening period. The remaining Php200 million would be used to ensure that there would be a continuous source of piglets for the subsequent expansion of the repopulation program.123 142 With the COVID-19 pandemic, all businesses have been impacted to different degrees. Vegetable farming was not affected in terms of production but in terms of distribution. The volume of purchases from food establishments that rely on Benguet’s vegetable produce for their daily operations drastically went down.124 143 Because of the perceived oversupply of vegetables caused by this significant reduction in the volume of purchases, the provincial government was compelled to remedy the situation by clustering the marketing of vegetables through the different trading centers in La Trinidad to make sure there is a stable volume of vegetable supply. While at the same time, ensuring that the buying prices do not vary much so farmers can earn a decent income even during the community quarantine period. 144 The successful implementation of the clustering scheme prompted Nestor Fongwan, Jr., President of the Philippine Councilors League, Provincial Federation President in Benguet Province and Councilor at La Trinidad, Benguet, to work out the institutionalization of the said program to jumpstart needed reforms to improve the state of the local vegetable industry. This will be the initial wave of programs to be introduced to vegetable farmers 120 Commission on Human Rights CARAGA Region. (2021, January). What Kind of Year Has It Been: A Report on the Human Rights Situation in CARAGA Region During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. 121 Philippine Daily Inquirer (2021). Meat traders in Bataan stage pork holiday. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer. net/1403581/meat-traders-in-bataan-stage-pork-holiday#:~:text=BALANGA%20CITY%E2%80%94At%20least%20 50,ceilings%20on%20pork%20and%20chicken. 122 Aurelio, J. (2021). House probe of proposed pork tariff cut sought. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1406637/ house-probe-of-proposed-pork-tariff-cut-sought 123 Ocampo, K. (2021). Gov’t starts swine repopulation program. Retrieved from https://business.inquirer.net/320591/govtstarts-swine-repopulation-program 124 Commission on Human Rights Cordillera Administrative Region. (2021, January). Regional Human Rights Situation Report July to December 2020.