MANILA, March 1 - The Philippines has sold nearly 80 billion pesos of retail Treasury bonds as it ended the offer on Tuesday, but the final amount could exceed 100 billion pesos if state agency orders are accepted, an underwriter said on Tuesday.
Total sale of over 100 billion pesos would give Manila flexibility in its financing plans for the rest of the year, with interest rates widely expected to climb in the second half as policymakers combat rising domestic consumer prices.
"This can reduce the government's auction offering in the near term, even up to the medium term, therefore insulating them from rising interest rates," Roberto Juanchito Dispo, executive vice president at First Metro Investment Corp
Although the six-day public offer ended on Tuesday, Dispo said the Bureau of Treasury could still sell the bonds to the public sector until the March 3 issue date. The government sold 20 billion pesos of the bonds at a state auction last week.
"There are pending orders from the GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations) ... of 25 billion pesos," he said, adding Manila was keen to accept the orders. State agencies have so far bought 10 billion pesos of the bonds.
As of Tuesday, Manila sold 23 billion pesos of the 5-year retail bonds and 56 billion pesos of the 10-year paper.
The Philippines, which relies heavily on local and foreign borrowings to fund its budget deficit, has nearly 28 billion pesos of retail T-bonds falling due in two tranches in the second half of 2011.
For 2011, Manila is targeting gross borrowing of 772.9 billion pesos, of which 73 percent, or 563.3 billion pesos, will be raised from the local bond market.
It last sold retail T-bonds in August, when it raised 97 billion pesos in an issue that attracted orders almost five times the offer size.
The retail bond sale was aimed at refinancing maturing debt and providing small investors with investment opportunities.
Along with First Metro, state lenders Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, BPI Capital of the Bank of the Philippine Islands
REACTION
In this article, i can say that. it was a good idea because it really helps to improve our economy and it gives opportunities to the small investor to invest.
i am happy to say that in this small action of our government it result to a more jobs, because it helps to an investor to invest..and because of that more it increase the population of Filipino people that are employed.
if the government will continue this kind of activities, im sure it really helps more to improve our country.