National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon (File photo)
MANILA – Retail Treasury Bond (RTB) offerings made up 35.2% of the government’s outstanding debt securities in 2021, helping to raise funds for its pandemic response programs while achieving the president’s goal Rodrigo Duterte to expand financial literacy and inclusion for Filipinos.
The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) said it raised a total of PHP463.3 billion and PHP360 billion through the issuance of RTB-25 and RTB-26, respectively.
In addition to RTBs, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the BTr also successfully launched in October 2021 the government’s first-ever retail dollar bonds (RDBs), which raised $1.6 billion in tenors. five and 10 years old.
To expand the reach of RTBs to small retail investors, de Leon said BTr has maximized the use of digital platforms through its online ordering platform currently available to Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), account holders First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. (FMSBC) and China Banking Corp. (ChinaBank); as well as the Bonds.Ph mobile application and the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) application.
She said Overseas (OF) Filipinos from 70 countries can invest in RTBs, RDBs and Premyo Bonds using these platforms.
“The BTr has partnered with our foreign service posts to conduct financial literacy seminars for Filipinos overseas. We have reached many more Filipinos, including those based in East Africa and South America,” de Leon said.
In line with its financial inclusion initiatives, the BTr also allowed online submission of RTB orders, as well as online ordering of government securities, which benefited retail investors.
Additionally, Government Eligible Securities (GSED) brokers are now allowed to enter their retail bond conversion orders directly through the National Registry of Scrip-Free Securities (NRoSS).
Previously, GSEDs had to fax or mail documentary requirements, which were then manually entered by the Title Origination Division into the NRoSS.
De Leon said the BTr also launched its own mobile app last year to serve as the office’s digital information hub and its broadcasts.
“Potential investors received accessible information about the BTr and its functions, as well as details of the latest retail bond offerings. The app also redirects users to the various investment channels available,” de Leon said.
The BTr is also in the final stages of developing the Financial Literacy or FiLi app which aims to promote financial literacy and investor education among Filipinos.
The said application is web-based and will allow retail investors to identify their risk appetite, recommend a portfolio based on their risk appetite, and perform simulations of possible returns based on the recommended portfolio. (PR)
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