CEBU CITY, Cebu, August 29 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Region 7 has urged retail investors to invest in its 28th and newest bond offering, the Retail Treasury Bonds 28 (RTB 28).

The RTB28 is an affordable, convenient, low-risk, short-term, and high-yielding investment security issued by the Philippine government.

At a press conference on August 26 in Cebu, officials from the BTr promoted the latest bond issuance by the government.

The RTB28 issuance will form part of the funds that will be used to finance government programs, projects, and services.

According to BTr, the public can invest in RTB28 for as low as P5,000 until Sept. 2.

The investing period started on August 23.

Any eligible investor - such as individuals, cooperatives, and other institutions - can invest in RTB28.

"We encourage retail investors to save and invest in this safe and secured investment. It is fully guaranteed by the national government and is intended for retail individuals. Also, we encourage more people to be part of the financial inclusion program of the Philippine government. When we buy retail treasury bonds, we are actually helping the government," said Fancis Media, treasury operations officer of the BTr Region 7.

The RTB28 has the following terms of offering:

• Maturity period – 5.5 years
• Fixed Interest rate – 5.75% per annum
• Frequency of Interest Payments – quarterly
• Minimum Investment – P5,000 and in increments of P5,000 thereafter
• Taxation – 20% withholding tax on interest income (not applicable for tax-exempt institutions)
  
• Investors can invest in RTB28 through any of the three different modes of investment.
  

It can be purchased over the counter through any authorized selling agent, online via www.treasury.gov.ph, and via app-based investment channels such as the LandBank App, Overseas Filipino Bank Mobile Banking App, and BondsPH App.

BTr has partnered with major banks in the country to act as the authorized selling agents for RTB28, namely: LandBank, DPB, BDO, BPI, Chinabank, Metrobank, PNB, Security Bank, and UnionBank.

The Bureau of Treasury also said that anyone can still invest even beyond Sept.2 for as long as there are still available slots, while the target issue settlement date for RTB28 is on Sept. 7.

The government intends to issue a total of P30 billion in RTB28 within the ten-day investing period. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)