THE Bureau of Treasury (BTr) urged the public to start investing through the retail treasury bonds (RTBs) before the deadline on February 6. BTr Region 3 (Central Luzon) Director Irene Jonson said treasury bonds, specifically RTBs, are peso debt instruments designed for retail investors, and are part of the government’s efforts to support financial inclusion and literacy. Jonson added that the investment is generally considered low-risk since it is issued by the national government with only a minimum of P5,000-requirement for an individual to start investing. To avail of the RTBs, interested individuals may go to any of the 20 banks that are authorized selling agents of the BTR, provided that the individuals have peso accounts in that bank. Such banks include Banco de Oro Unibank Inc., BDO Capital and Investment Corp., BPI-Capital Corp., China Banking Corp., Citibank, CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp., Development Bank of the Philippines, East West Banking Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., ING Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, Maybank Philippines Inc., Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., Philippine National Bank, Philippine Bank of Communications, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Robinsons Bank Corp., Security Bank Corp,, Standard Chartered Bank and Union Bank of the Philippines.