MANILA - Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco reiterated on Tuesday there was no pressure on the monetary authority to withdraw stimulus given to the economy, with the inflation outlook expected to remain favorable.

"There is no urgency at this point to start implementing an exit strategy," Tetangco told reporters.

"So far (the) inflation outlook is still favorable. So far there is no threat to the inflation target."

The BSP, which is targetting inflation of 2.5% to 4.5% this year and 3.5% to 5.5% next year, meets for the last time this year on December 17 to review policy.

It is widely expected to maintain its overnight borrowing rate at a record low of 4% and leave it there until at least the second quarter of 2010.

The last time the BSP adjusted its key policy rate was in July, when it cut rates by 25 basis points.

BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo has warned that a prolonged period of low rates may cause asset price inflation and complicate its job of keeping prices stable.

He told Reuters in an interview on Monday the central bank would "not necessarily" keep its policy rate at a record low even if the country was to meet its inflation goals this year and next.

Philippine annual inflation jumped to a 6-month high in November due to high costs of food, clothing and services, but it stayed within the government's 2009 inflation target, giving the BSP room to stick to its accommodative stance.