MANILA- The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Twitter that the 15 CA members present made no objection to Cimatu's appointment.

No objection to the appointment of Cimatu as Secretary of the DENR.

— DENR (@DENROfficial) October 4, 2017

Cimatu, a retired general and former military chief, was tapped by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the DENR after the CA rejected the appointment of his predecessor, Gina Lopez.

Unlike Lopez, Cimatu had expressed openness to allowing mining in the country as long as it is done responsibly.

The President reappointed Cimatu on June 1 after he was initially bypassed by Congress.

"The confirmation of my ad interim appointment as DENR Secretary will allow me to continue to institute reforms, and pursue programs and projects that would truly protect the environment and improve people's lives," Cimatu said in a statement.

"This gives me enough inspiration to carry out the seemingly gargantuan tasks of protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable use of the country's rich natural resources in the face of climate change and dwindling natural wealth of the nation."

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, meanwhile, said Malacañang welcomes Cimatu's appointment

"The Palace is confident that Secretary Cimatu would be able to implement the President’s marching orders on natural resources development and environmental policies of keeping a delicate balance between economic development and environmental sustainability," he said.