MANILA - Economic growth in the Philippines likely slowed in the third quarter from the previous 3 months as manufacturers carefully rebuilt their inventories amid a cautious outlook on the global economy, a Reuters poll showed.

Six of 10 economists surveyed forecast gross domestic product (GDP) grew a seasonally adjusted 1.3% in July to September, lower than the 2.4% expansion seen in the second quarter, based on the poll's median estimate.

Compared with a year earlier, growth likely picked up 1.7% in the third quarter, the same poll showed.

Stronger domestic consumption, largely driven by strong inflows of remittances from Filipinos overseas, may have offset the impact of a strong typhoon in late September that destroyed crops and buildings worth millions of dollars.

The government has forecast third-quarter GDP growth of between 1.6-2.6% from a year earlier, better than the 1.5% annual expansion in the second quarter, and putting the country on track to meet its 0.8-1.8% full-year growth target.

Other economies in the region such as China, Singapore and Indonesia have reported a pick-up in annual economic growth in the September quarter from the previous three months.

Central bank governor Amando Tetangco said on Wednesday that authorities have enough leeway to continue their easy monetary policy as any increase in inflation would be manageable.

The central bank kept its key policy rate at a record low of 4% for the third meeting in a row this month as it waits for the economic recovery to get on firmer footing.

As the boost from emergency stimulus measures starts to wane, there are concerns that brisk growth seen by some countries recently will not extend into coming quarters unless consumer demand in the West stages a solid recovery.