The Philippine Go Bag: 72 hours on your own
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) says being self-sufficient for at least 72 hours is the most important survival measure, because help will not arrive at once after a major disaster. Pack a Go Bag for the family with ready-to-eat food, drinking water, a flashlight, a whistle and some cash, keep it by the main exit, and check it every three months. There is no single national water figure; local and school guides commonly use 1 gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day.
What this means for your household
Set your household size to see the days, water and food the Philippines advice adds up to.
A Go Bag that lets the family be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
Drinking water for 2 people. Philippines sets no daily figure here, so this uses 3 L, the most common official number.
Person-days of food to cover (2 × 3). Pick food that needs no fridge and little or no cooking.
We found the 72-hour figure in OCD statements, not a single national checklist with a water amount.
What goes in a Go Bag
The OCD says the container can fit your household: a backpack per person, or a bucket or plastic box for a family at home. Put ready-to-eat food and drinking water first, ahead of uncooked rice.
- Drinking water in sealed bottles, plus water purification tablets
- Ready-to-eat food that needs no cooking
- A flashlight and a battery-powered radio, with spare batteries
- A whistle to signal for help
- A first aid kit and the medicines your family takes
- Copies of IDs and important documents in a waterproof bag
- Some cash in small bills
- Toilet paper, hygiene items and a change of clothes
How the Philippines warns you
- Emergency alerts come free to mobile phones in the affected area through the Emergency Cell Broadcast System, under the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act (RA 10639).
- The NDRRMC sends these alerts only for situations that need immediate action, so treat every one seriously.
- PAGASA raises Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals from 1 to 5. Signal 1 means strong winds are expected within 36 hours; Signal 5 means devastating typhoon-force winds within 12 hours.
- Follow your barangay and city or municipal disaster office for evacuation orders.
Philippines-specific steps
- Keep the Go Bag near the main exit and make sure every family member knows where it is.
- Check it every three months and replace anything close to expiring, as the OCD advises.
- Make a family reunification plan: an open, safe meeting place, routes from school and work, and how long to wait before searching for someone.
- In Metro Manila, prepare for the 'Big One', a major earthquake on the West Valley Fault, when help may take days to arrive.
- Before typhoon season, secure your roof and know your evacuation center.
Go beyond the minimum: what we recommend
Official lists cover the basics. These are the gaps we see most often when an emergency lasts longer than expected.
- Build toward 7 days of water and food, even if the official minimum is 3. Outages often last longer than planned.
- Keep paper and digital copies of IDs, insurance and prescriptions, so you can prove who you are and get medicines.
- Write the expiry date on everything and check the kit every 6 months, so it doesn't quietly go out of date.
- Plan for phone power: a charged power bank, plus a solar panel or car charger for longer outages.
- Save offline maps of your area and agree a meeting point, in case the mobile network is down.
- An offline survival guide on your phone: HAVEN tracks your kit and expiry dates and works with no signal.Download HAVEN free
Numbers to write down
- 911 · National emergency hotline
- PAGASA · Typhoon warnings
- NDRRMC · Disaster alerts
Keep a paper copy: your phone may be flat when you need it.
Your kit, ready when the network isn't
HAVEN tracks your Go Bag in days for your family, reminds you every three months to check what is expiring, and keeps first aid and typhoon guides offline on your phone when the signal is down.
- Coverage in days for your household
- Expiry reminders
- Offline guides and AI
- Free to start, no account needed
How Philippines compares
Philippines: 3 days. Across the 25 governments we checked, most ask for 3 days, a growing group asks for a week, and Austria asks for the most, at 10 to 14 days. See every country's advice.
Philippines preparedness FAQ
How many days should a Go Bag last in the Philippines?
At least 72 hours. The Office of Civil Defense calls 72-hour self-sufficiency the most critical survival measure, because aid will not be immediate after a major disaster.
How much water should I pack?
There is no single NDRRMC figure. Local government and school guides commonly say 1 gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, which is about 3 gallons per person for 72 hours.
How often should I check my Go Bag?
Every three months, according to the OCD. Replace food, water, medicines and batteries before they expire.
Do I need to register for emergency text alerts?
No. Under the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, alerts are broadcast free to mobile phones in the affected area.
What do PAGASA wind signals mean?
They warn how strong the winds will be and how soon. Signal 1 means strong winds within 36 hours. Signal 5, the highest, means devastating typhoon-force winds within 12 hours.
Official sources
- Civil Defense promotes 'GO Bag' for emergencies (PIA)
- OCD-NCR: 72-hr self-sufficiency crucial survival measure after 'Big One' (PIA)
- NDRRMC process on disseminating emergency alerts (PIA)
- Weather warnings legend (PAGASA)
This page summarises official advice and is not a substitute for it. Always follow the instructions of your local emergency services. Last checked 2 November 2026.