The Philippines spends $16.5 million to buy three more landing ships from Australia.

AFP reported on February 2nd that Arsenio Andolong, a public affairs official at the Philippine Department of Defense, said the country will purchase three Australian-made landing craft, following two that Canberra donated to Manila to support rescue efforts after future typhoon disasters.

According to Arsenio Andolong, the Philippines will receive and refurbish three ships, each 44.5 meters long and designed to carry heavy supplies, at a cost of approximately 726 million pesos (US$16.5 million).

The HMAS Tobruk landing ship of the Australian Navy (Source: navy.gov.au)

Mr. Andolong said: "According to market standards, these three ships are being sold for virtually nothing. These ships will be used in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts."

The Australian Embassy has also confirmed that the Philippines had previously expressed interest in purchasing the three ships.

On February 1st, Australia announced it would donate two used military landing ships to the Philippines to support humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said the two ships are expected to be repaired and ready for delivery to the Philippines by May.

These two ships, each 44.5 meters long, were designed to carry heavy supplies and were both decommissioned in November 2014.

According to VNA