Should Filipinos worry over other countries’ stockpiling calls? Solidum explains
Residents, motorcycle taxi riders, and other Filipinos took their needed fill of fresh vegetables at a community pantry in Quezon City on March 27, 2026. The pantry follows the basic principle of giving according to one’s capacity and taking according to one’s need to ensure that others are also provided for. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — The three-day emergency stockpiling initiatives being promoted by other countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom are standard disaster preparedness measures and not indications of an impending crisis, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. explained Tuesday.
In the past few weeks, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and several members of the European Union have almost simultaneously directed their citizens to prepare food, water, and basic necessities to last for several days should there be emergencies.
Solidum said that the initiatives were meant to encourage households to keep sufficient supplies in case of emergencies—a practice that the Philippines has also long been promoting.
He added that Japan’s campaign coincides with the establishment of its new ministry focused on disaster preparedness.
“Yung sa Japan kasi yung ‘be ready’ event nila ay dahil may bago silang ministry na nakatutok sa disaster preparedness. Dati rati kasi parang Cabinet office lang sya. So para mabigyan ng importansya yung pagtatayo nila ng bagong ministry, yung ‘be ready’ kasi parang 3-day provision, parang ‘Go Bag’ na sinasabi natin noon,” Solidum told DZMM.
“Usually, yung 3 days na ‘yan, ‘yan yung bago ka makakuha ng tulong from the government kung malaki ang disaster na mangyari… So importante talaga yung preparedness na ginagawa ng bawat pamilya,” he added.
He also clarified that the United Kingdom’s three-day stockpile initiative was a “routine” resilience measure and does not signal an imminent emergency.
Solidum said the same practice is necessary for Filipino families, given the country’s vulnerability to typhoons, earthquakes, and El Niño, among others.
“Ang parati nating sinasabi, for any event in the Philippines, dapat talaga meron kang ready for the family, mga supply ng tubig, pagkain, syempre yung mga first aid,” he said.
Malacañang last week said the Marcos administration is “ready for anything” when asked about the Philippines’ preparedness for potential disasters and conflicts as other countries advise their citizens to stockpile emergency food and needs.