Filipinos can now buy 5-year retail treasury bonds (RTBs) from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) with just a few clicks on their mobile phones.

On Thursday, July 16, the BTr started selling the RTBs or “Progreso bonds,” which have an interest rate of 2.625% per annum. 

The 5-year RTBs will be available until August 7 and will mature in 2025.

The bond sale aims to generate at least P30 billion, mainly to fund the government’s health initiatives against the coronavirus pandemic and help overseas Filipino workers and small businesses.

RTBs are sold in multiples of P5,000 for small investors. For the minimum amount, investors will gain P525 after 5 years.

To calculate the gains from the planned investment amount, click here.

Investing in bonds is deemed low-risk and yields higher than time deposits. It also has quarterly interest payments.

RTBs are also liquid and can easily be bought and sold through selling agents, subject to minimum requirements and market rates.

How to invest?

Interested investors can download the UnionBank-powered Bonds.Ph mobile application.

Investors will go through the usual customer identification and verification to access the app’s services.

A photo of an identification card and a selfie would be among the requirements.

Once account verification is complete, investors can place orders. – Rappler.com