MANILA - The Philippines, one of Asia's largest sovereign debt issuers, is looking into investor suggestions to issue global bonds this year to prefund next year's borrowing needs, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said on Thursday.

"The Philippine government is looking into suggestions from investment banks and hedge funds for the issuance of global bonds for pre-funding requirements next year in view of ample market liquidity and lower financing costs even for longer maturities," Teves said in a mobile phone text message to reporters.

Just yesterday, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said that the government would no longer return to the global market for the rest of the year. He noted that market talk about a possible deal was "not true."

So far, the Philippines has raised some $2.25 billion from the issuance of 10-year global bonds this year. It sold $1.5 billion worth of bonds last January, and another $750 million in July.

It is planning to issue Samurai bonds in the fourth quarter after the Japan Bank for International Cooperation agreed to lower the guarantee fee on the bonds.

Next year, the country intends to raise $2 billion in foreign bonds to help finance its budget deficit. With a report from Reuters