The Philippines is still awaiting a formal proposal from the United States regarding the sale of 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday.

“We’re still waiting for the formal offer and proposal. We haven’t received anything officially yet,” Teodoro said in an interview in Mandaluyong City.

Earlier this month, the US State Department gave the green light for the sale of F-16 jets worth $5.58 billion to the Philippines, which was welcomed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“We’re excited that the US Congress approved the sale of 20 F-16s to the Philippines, but a final decision hasn’t been made,” AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said in an interview last week. “We’re hoping we can speed up the acquisition of these jets because they’re really important to us.”

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed that the Philippine government had asked to purchase 16 F-16C Block 70/72 fighter jets and four F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft. The necessary certification notifying Congress of the potential sale has already been submitted.

Brawner emphasized that acquiring multi-role fighter jets is crucial for enhancing the country’s defense against external threats.

“We’re exploring all of our options. But for sure, we need multi-role fighters to defend our country. Whether it’s the F-16s, the Gripen, or any other multi-role fighter, we’re still studying that,” he said.

The F-16 multi-role fighter jets, known for their agility, speed, and versatility, are capable of performing a wide range of missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground attacks, and deep interdiction.