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The Philippines has received a donation of thousands of assault riffles, helmets and other military gear from the Russian government, officials reported on Wednesday.

This comes as Russia, who are looking to expand their arms market in Southeast Asia are also looking to exploit the fact that the Phillipines government is also seeking to diversify its weapons systems.

The Philippines received about 5,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 5,000 steel helmets, about a million rounds of ammunition for the rifles and 20 army trucks in a ceremony attended by President Rodrigo Duterte, who also toured one of five visiting Russian warships.

The gift came a day after Russia and the Philippines signed two military pacts, including a sales contract with Rosoboronexport, a state-owned vendor of Russian defense equipment.

"We are looking at acquiring some equipment for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, but there are no specifics yet," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told Reuters. "We are still discussing."

But the Philippines' biggest source of arms, the United States, was not worried at the prospect of equipment donated by its rivals China and Russia.

"I don't attach very much significance to it, some trucks or guns being dropped off to a country that's fighting terrorists right now," U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on the plane to Bangkok.

"It's a sovereign decision by the Philippines," he added. "So it's not a big issue...other nations are coming to their help."