Manila: The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) successfully raised PHP500 billion through its 31st issuance of Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB 31), alongside PHP25 billion from a Treasury bills auction.

According to Philippines News Agency, the BTr reported that the RTB 31 issuance garnered PHP425.51 billion in new money, driven by significant market demand. The initial auction on August 5 awarded PHP210 billion, while the remaining PHP81.65 billion was secured via a bond exchange during the initial four days of the offer period. The five-year issuance, with a 6 percent annual coupon rate, was open to investors from August 5 to 15, with the issue and settlement date scheduled for August 20, 2025, and maturity on August 20, 2030.

The proceeds from the RTB-31 issuance are intended to support various government projects and programs in sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture. To increase retail participation and public awareness, the BTr, in collaboration with Joint Lead Issue Managers and Joint Issue Managers, organized regional roadshows in cities including Baguio, Zambales, Pampanga, and others. Additionally, online financial literacy sessions targeted overseas Filipino communities, local investors, and institutions like schools and cooperatives.

RTB-31 was accessible to investors for as low as PHP5,000 through traditional bank branches and digital platforms, including the BTr online ordering facility, the Bonds.PH mobile app, and others. Notably, it was the first RTB available on GCash via the GBonds function.

In parallel, the BTr fully awarded bids for Treasury bills in an auction held on Monday. The 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills achieved average rates of 5.234 percent, 5.435 percent, and 5.564 percent, respectively. The auction received PHP113.7 billion in total tenders, successfully raising the full program amount of PHP25 billion.