BATANGAS CITY — Governor Vilma Santos Recto appealed Friday to concerned parties to take swift action in avoiding an environmental disaster in the coast of Nasugbu where an Indonesia-registered barge spilled coal two weeks ago.

In an emergency meeting attended by Indonesian firm representative Didik Surdianto, officials led by the governor called on the parties to take proper action on the grounded vessel and the huge amount of oil it spilled into the bay area.

At the meeting were Senior Supt. Alberto Supapo, Batangas Police Provincial Office director; Provincial Administrator Victor Reyes; Lt. Cmdr. Troy Cornelio, Batangas Coast Guard commander; and Nasugbu MPDC Reynaldo Garcia.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), likewise, urged barge owner PT Trans Power Marine to act on their responsibilities as the coal spill could damage marine life in Batangas Bay, endanger life of residents and tourists and jeopardize the local economy.

Surdianto said they already contracted a salvage company to remove the damaged vessel from the bay.

Commodore Cecil Cheng, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Southern Tagalog District director, added that the barge owner shall shoulder all expenses, including the cleaning operations of the affected area.

Last July 14, at the height of typhoon “Basyang”, the towing line of the barge bound for Manila and loaded with 8,000 metric tons of coal broke, causing the boat to drift to shallow waters off Barangay Wawa in Nasugbu.