Philippine Marines and Navy sailors stand at attention next to rigid-hulled inflatable patrol boats during the navy's founding anniversary celebration at a naval station in Cavite city, west of Manila on May 25, 2015 . The Philippine navy is one of the weakest in the region relying mostly on decades-old, surplus US warships, but the Philippine government has been modernising the navy and other branches of the armed forces in the face of China's increasing aggressiveness in trying to claim most of the South China sea. AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE

The Philippines has received two new Canadian-built helicopters and a surplus South Korean transport vessel as it pushes through with a long-delayed military modernisation programme, military spokesmen said Thursday.

Two Bell 412EP helicopters were delivered last week, the first of an eight-helicopter order, said air force spokesman Colonel Enrico Canaya.

The utility helicopters are undergoing technical inspection before they join the military's fleet to carry cargo and troops, he added.

The rest of the order will arrive before the end of the year, supplementing the military's fleet of ageing "Huey" helicopters.

Meanwhile, a surplus landing craft donated by South Korea, was also delivered to the Philippines, navy spokesman Commander Lued Lincuna said.

The 41-metre (135-foot) long vessel will be used primarily for relief operations in the disaster-prone country, he added.

The landing craft, which came with 16 inflatable dinghies, can carry about a hundred troops and will be used for transport purposes in the archipelagic nation, Lincuna told AFP.

The South Korean embassy confirmed the boat had been delivered last month and was part of its efforts to assist the cash-strapped Philippines which has one of the weakest militaries in the region.

Both military spokesmen said the new acquisitions were not related to the Philippines' ongoing maritime territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.