A Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 and a Royal Malaysian Air Force EC725 are in the Philippines to help with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in areas hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. Philippine Air Force handout photos

MANILA — Malaysia and Singapore have sent aircraft to help with rescue and relief operations in part of the Philippines hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 cargo plane and a Royal Malaysian Air Force EC725 helicopter arrived at Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday, the Philippine Air Force said.

RELATED: Coast Guard ship transporting aid sails for storm-battered Bicol

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Sunday morning said 288 areas across the country remained flooded, with most of them — 132 — in Central Luzon.

It also said 218 roads were impassable, with 137 of those in the Bicol region, followed by CALABARZON with 46.

While sea voyages have been allowed with the lifting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals, 60 seaports remain non-operational. Most of those, 27, are in the MIMAROPA region.

NDRRMC said more than 5.78 million people were affected by the recent storm, which caused unprecedented flooding in parts of Bicol.

PH SEEKS ASSISTANCE FROM SEA NEIGHBORS, US COUNTERPARTS

At an emergency meeting last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured residents of Bicol — the worst-hit by Kristine — that the government was sending aid and would be airlifting rubber boats to help rescue people trapped by widespread flooding in the region.

RELATED: Rescuers battle floodwaters to reach people left stranded by 'Kristine'

At the same briefing, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that the government had reached out to neighboring countries for “airlift and other manpower assistance” to supplement local efforts.

“With Singapore, I already talked to Ambassador (Constance) See, and then we are reaching out to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia as the closest neighbors, in addition to partner nations,” he said last Wednesday.

Teodoro, as well as Singaporean Ambassador See and Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abd Malik Castelino were at Villamor Air Base on Saturday for the arrival of the aircraft.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said last week that it was coordinating with US counterparts on airlift operations, adding AFP sites identified under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement that allows American access to them would be used as a staging ground for rescue and relief operations.

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