Bureau of the Treasury Regional Director Irene Jonson urges the public to start investing through the retail treasury bonds. (PIA 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Central Luzon urged the public to start investing through the retail treasury bonds (RTBs).
BTr Regional Director Irene Jonson said treasury bonds, specifically RTBs, are peso debt instruments designed for retail investors, and is part of the government’s efforts to support financial inclusion and literacy.
“This is in line with the government’s move to encourage the country’s unbanked population to open bank accounts in order to save and invest their money,” Jonson said.
The director added that this type of investment is generally considered low-risk since it is issued by the national government.
“Only a minimum of PhP5,000 is required for an individual to start investing. This provides an annual interest rate of 4.375 percent and are paid quarterly during its three-year maturity period,” she said.
To avail of the RTBs, interested individuals may go to any of the 20 banks which are authorized selling agents of the BTR, provided that the individuals have peso accounts in that bank.
These include Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc., BDO Capital and Investment Corporation, BPI-Capital Corporation, China Banking Corporation, Citibank, CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corporation, Development Bank of the Philippines, East West Banking Corporation, First Metro Investment Corporation, ING Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Maybank Philippines, Inc., Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, Philippine National Bank, Philippine Bank of Communications, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Robinsons Bank Corporation, Security Bank Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, and Union Bank of the Philippines.
“Another way is to invest online thru Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, and First Metro Investment Corporation. Just go to our website www.treasury.gov.ph, click the RTB logo, and follow the instruction,” Jonson said.
As an additional feature, she said that BTr is also introducing an Exchange Offer program, where bond holders of RTB 3-08 which will mature on April 11, 2020, will be allowed to exchange their holdings for the latest RTB offering.
The bond can be purchased until February 6, 2020.
These are conceptualized to serve as the agency’s main source of funding to support projects of the national government like infrastructure, social services, health, and education.
Bureau of the Treasury Regional Director Irene Jonson urges the public to start investing through the retail treasury bonds.
