MANILA - The National Disaster Coordinating Council on Friday urged the people to stock up on food and non-food items enough to last for three days as typhoon Santi is set to make a landfall on Saturday.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, Santi is 350 kilometers east northeast of Infanta, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph. It is forecast to be at west northwest of Metro Manila or in the vicinity of Zambales on Saturday morning and 600 kms west of Metro Manila or over China Sea on Sunday morning.

NDCC spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the NDCC had an inter-agency meeting on Friday morning to check on the government's operational readiness to respond to the effects of Santi.

Also checked during the meeting was the stockpiling of relief goods that may be needed by those who may be affected by the weather disturbance and the deployment of personnel and equipment needed in relief and response operations.

Torres said the NDCC is advising owners to fold or bring down their billboard tarpaulins, saying this may contribute to the possible toppling of the steel frames and cause accidents.

“Aside from the collective preparations being undertaken, individual family preparedness is encouraged such as readying a 72-hour survival kit,” said Torres.

“Recommended contents of such kit are compact food and rice stocks stored in orocan container,” said Torres.

Torres said the kit should also include non-food items such as radios, flashlight and battery, basic tools, beddings, utensils, clothing, toiletries, first aid kit, and organizer for for important documents, and a family evacuation plan.

He said there might be no need to conduct a massive evacuation in Metro Manila, noting that about 106,000 individuals are still in evacuation centers who have been affected by Ondoy and Pepeng. “Most of these come from risk areas like waterways,” he said.

He said the AFP’s National Capital Region Command will be providing primary disaster mitigation and response support to Markina, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Paranaque, Pasay, and Makati.