CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Retail investors in Central Luzon may now purchase the 29th tranche of retail treasury bonds (RTBs) until February 17.
The RTBs are medium to long-term debt securities issued by the Republic of the Philippines through the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
BTr Debt Strategy and Planning Division Officer-in-Charge Luis Gabriel Señires explained that RTBs are part of the government’s savings mobilization program designed to make government securities available to small investors.
“The difference of the RTBs from the usual fund-raising exercises is that we made these accessible to retail investors. For as low as P5,000, you can participate in nation building through investing in RTBs,” he said.
The bonds pay a fixed interest rate of 6.125 percent per annum with a maturity date of 5.5 years from the issue date.
Meanwhile, BTr Regional Director Yvette Christine Herrera emphasized that RTBs are designed as low-risk and affordable savings instruments as they are direct, unconditional, and general obligations of the Republic.
“If you have P5,000 and you don’t want to be scammed, invest in retail treasury bonds. Here, the government is the one owing you the money so it is sure that you will be paid. RTBs are safe and secure investments,” she pressed.
She added that RTBs offer higher yields than term deposit instruments and they provide frequent cash flow via quarterly interest payments over the life of the bond.
BTr shared that throughout the offer period, individuals, corporations, financial institutions, and other institutional investors can purchase RTBs through its Online Ordering Facility at www.treasury.gov.ph.
The bonds can also be bought via the Bonds.PH Mobile Application at Bonds.PH, Overseas Filipino Bank Mobile Banking Application at OFBank, LandBank of the Philippines Mobile Banking Application at LBP MBA.
Transactions may also be done over the counter through any of the selling agents.
The proceeds of the RTB 29 will finance the government’s expenditures focused on the promotion of agriculture, education, infrastructure, and healthcare sectors.
These will also be utilized for the enhancement of the country’s response against the pandemic, and various priority projects nationwide.
SOURCE: Jag Lyra Costamero PIA3
