BTr offers RTB30, awards P212.7B bids

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Tuesday issued the 30th tranche of the Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) which will be offered until next Friday, February 23, as it seeks to generate funds for its P2.46-trillion financing requirement for the year.

Data released by the BTr said it accepted P212.719-billion worth of bids for the five-year treasury bonds at a gross interest rate of 6.25% per annum, payable every quarter until the maturity in 2029.

The BTr said it received the P272.708 billion tenders versus the P280-billion offer, with P59.989-billion worth of bids rejected.

The public offering will last until February 23 and will be settled on February 28, catering to existing holders of the RTBs 22 and 25.

The RTBs are accessible through over-the-counter transactions, and can be purchased through the BTr’s Online Ordering Facility for investors who are also clients of the China Banking Corp., the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank), and the First Metro Securities.

They may also be availed through the mobile banking platforms of Landbank, the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), and the Bonds.PH applications.

"The RTB 30 is more than just a financial contract but a commitment to shared prosperity. It will help drive the government’s socioeconomic agenda forward and empower ordinary Filipinos to chart their path to financial freedom for a more secure future,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said in a separate statement.

The DOF last month said it would be relying heavily on the domestic front to finance the P2.46-trillion total borrowing requirement for the year which increased from P2.207 trillion in 2023.

The department said it would continue to adopt a 75:25 borrowing mix in favor of domestic sources, as it said this would allow the country to effectively mitigate foreign exchange risks and to take advantage of the liquidity in the financial system.—AOL, GMA Integrated News