Kalinga party-list Rep. Irene Gay Saulog (KALINGA PARTYLIST / MANILA BULLETIN) Kalinga party-list Rep. Irene Gay Saulog, a member of the House Minority bloc, described as “laudable” the decision of the IATF to form the panel, which is composed of medical experts. “Kalinga Party-list welcomes the IATF’s creation of the TWG that will focus on the new COVID-19 variants. It was a laudable move to appoint as heads those from the medical and scientific community. They possess the requisite knowledge and expertise in addressing the new development in the pandemic,” she said in a Viber message. “This action alone will not prevent the entry of the new COVID-19 variants to the country. It is, however, a good starting point in the country’s response. A specialized body that will be focused on a mission critical objective,” Saulog said.