GCash is offering a new low-risk Philippine government bond through its GBonds platform, allowing eligible users to invest with a minimum of 5,000 Philippine pesos.
The mobile wallet provider partnered with Philippine Digital Asset Exchange Inc., PDAX Securities and the Bureau of the Treasury to make Retail Treasury Bond 32 available directly on smartphones WITH primary offer period running from Sept. 29 to Oct. 7, though the Treasury bureau reserves the right to close the offering earlier.
The bonds carry a 2.5-year term with an annual interest rate of 6.875%, paid out in quarterly coupon payments. Set to be issued on Oct. 12 and maturing on April 12, 2029, the government-backed securities will yield approximately 68.75 pesos per quarter on a minimum 5,000-peso investment, net of a 20% withholding tax.
RTB 32 is classified as a low-risk investment because the principal is guaranteed to be repaid at face value upon maturity, though selling the bonds before the term ends could result in varying returns.
The offering coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Philippine government’s retail bond program, which channels proceeds toward public sector priorities including education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure.
By removing the need for a traditional bank account and lowering the minimum investment threshold, GBonds aims to expand access to formal financial markets.
Darvin Su, GCash general manager for wealth management, noted that the initiative provides a simple and trusted avenue for users to grow their money, allowing Filipinos to invest directly in the government and earn consistent interest.
To participate, investors must be at least 18 years old and maintain a fully verified GCash account. Users can navigate to the investment tab within the app, complete the GBonds registration process and fund their digital wallet.
Investors then select the pre-sale RTB 32 option, input their desired amount and finalize the transaction.
The company noted that all confirmed bond orders are final and cannot be canceled, advising prospective investors to ensure the 2.5-year lock-in period aligns with their financial needs. NLMonitor
