Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Philippines is still looking for funds to buy at least 20 F-16 fighter jets from the United States.

Romualdez said the government are now finding ways to look for money for the fighter jets worth $5.58 billion.

Last April, the US State Department has approved the possible sale of fighter jets and related equipment to the Philippines.

“It’s a question of how we would be able to finance it. And we’re working with the United States and Lockheed to see whether we can find a way to be able to purchase this,” Romualdez said.

“We’re really looking at other items that are, I think in the view of our national defense strategy, more important, the priority for us rather than the F-16… our priority is more on perhaps land-based type of defense capabilities,” Romualdez added.

The Philippine Department of Defense has said it has yet to receive a formal offer and proposal on the potential sale of the F-16 fighter jets. The US State Department also said last month that the deal would be final only after “a signed Letter of Offer and Acceptance” was received from the ‘purchasing partner.’