By Charissa Luci-Atienza  The Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) have been finally transferred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). A joint memorandum circular that operationalizes the transfer of  the three commissions, which were previously under the Office of the President, was signed last Thursday,  Feb.  27 at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista led the signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, Series of 2020, which he described as a "significant milestone" in pursuit of the DSWD's goal to improve the quality of lives of all Filipinos. The JMC No.  1 serves as the guidelines for the implementation of Executive Order No. 67, Series of 2018. The EO No. 67 is aimed at rationalizing the Office of the President through the consolidation of its core mandates and strengthening the democratic and institutional framework of the Executive Department. Bautista said with the signing of the JMC, it is expected that the polices and programs of the PCUP, NCIP,  and NAPC will be harmonized with that of the DSWD for the benefit of all Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged. "It is equally important task that we also strengthen and harmonize the government policies and programs that give our fellow Filipinos a chance towards a better life," he said in his speech during the ceremonial signing of the JMC. He noted that the circular would identify the areas of cooperation and coordination between the DSWD,   PCUP, NCIP, and NAPC. He said the JMC also provides the "simplification of the respective system and process of the agencies to ensure responsiveness and ease in the delivery of the essential public service." Joining Bautista during the JMC signing were PCUP chairperson Alvin Feliciano,  NCIP chairperson Allen Capuyan,  and NAPC Secretary Noel Felongco. Under EO No. 67, President Duterte ordered the transfer of the NAPC,  NCIP,  and PCUP to the DSWD. It also provides the transfer of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)  and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)  to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF),  Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and the National Youth Commission (NYC)  to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The EO mandates the transferred government agencies to "harmonize their policies and coordinate their programs and activities with their supervising Departments,  as well simplify their systems and processes,  to ensure responsiveness and efficiency in the delivery of essential public services, and the attainment of the administration's 10-point socio-economic agenda and development goals." The EO was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on October 31, 2018.