By John Rey Saavedra
CEBU CITY – The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is now eyeing young investors in its new public offering of medium to long-term debt securities, Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs), an official said Wednesday.
Joaquin Leandro Sanchez, chief of the BTr’s Capital Markets Strategy and Planning Division, said that apart from the traditional offering through authorized agents, the agency is turning to information technology to encourage the youth sector to invest in RTBs.
“The offering distribution package in the traditional (platform), we have online and app-based offering made available to ensure the hassle-free experience for our participating investors,” Sanchez said, as he addressed participants in the RTB30 Roadshow at the Bayfront Hotel here.
The roadshow, attended by over 100 bank managers in Cebu, was aimed at educating the investing public about the government’s RTB issuance with an offering period from Feb. 13 to 23, 2024.
Jessa Ala, senior manager of Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank), said offering RTB online will encourage youngsters to invest in debt securities issued by the Republic of the Philippines and contribute to the effort of the government to fuel further developments.
Ala said apart from 24 authorized selling agents, the public offering can be processed online through www.treasury.gov.ph where an investor can select from four settlement banks –Landbank, Development Bank of the Philippines, First Metro Securities, and China Banking Corporation.
She said investors can also purchase RTBs through mobile banking applications (app) of Landbank Mobile Banking App, OFBank Mobile Banking App, and Bonds PH Mobile App.
As fixed-income securities with fixed interest rates per annum, RTBs are part of the national government’s savings mobilization program designed to make government securities available to retail investors.
RTBs are believed to be low-risk and affordable savings instruments, with higher-yielding interests compared to savings accounts and term deposits, and has a minimum investment of PHP5,000. (PNA)
