Two congressmen in Davao de Oro secure high-ranking positions in Congress
Davao de Oro Representatives Take Key Roles in the 20th Congress
In a significant development for the 20th Congress of the Philippines, two representatives from Davao de Oro have been appointed to key leadership positions. Maria Carmen "Maricar" Zamora (1st District) has been elected as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Accounts, and Leonel "Jhong" Ceniza (2nd District) has been appointed as Assistant Majority Floor Leader.
These appointments were confirmed following the re-election of Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as Speaker of the House on July 28, 2025. The elections were a sign of unity and compromise among fellow representatives, with Romualdez leading the 19th Congress and overseeing 11,500 bills and 287 measures that became laws. The 20th Congress is expected to be even more productive, as efforts have been made to remove obstacles posed by traditional politicians and established leaders in the legislative process.
As Chairperson of the House Committee on Accounts, Zamora will oversee the internal financial operations of the House of Representatives. This role reinforces Davao de Oro’s growing influence in national legislation and contributes to the effectiveness of the House under Speaker Romualdez’s leadership.
Ceniza, on the other hand, has been appointed as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. This role involves managing legislative priorities and leading House proceedings. Ceniza has also been appointed as part of the House floor leadership team, responsible for coordinating legislative actions and achieving consensus on priority measures within the majority bloc.
The local officials and politicians from Davao de Oro expressed their satisfaction with these appointments, indicating a strong commitment to handling larger responsibilities in inclusive development and reforms. The appointments are also seen as a sign of the region's growing influence in national politics.
The elections for these positions are a testament to the unity among the representatives, some of whom supported Speaker Romualdez to create a more efficient and responsive legislature. The Davao Region, known to be a stronghold of President Duterte, provided five out of the six congressional representatives' support for Romualdez's re-election.
With these key appointments, the 20th Congress is poised to continue the productive legislative work started by the 19th Congress, with a renewed focus on fiscal discipline, institutional transparency, and regional representation.
In the 20th Congress, the representatives from Davao de Oro, specifically Maria Carmen "Maricar" Zamora and Leonel "Jhong" Ceniza, have taken prominent roles in shaping policy-and-legislation and politics, as Zamora serves as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Accounts and Ceniza as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. These appointments, a reflection of Davao de Oro's increasing influence in general-news and national affairs, are seen as a significant step towards a more efficient and responsive legislature.
