Manila, March 3 -- The country's manufacturing sector continued to grow in February but at a softer pace than the recorded expansion in January, S&P Global said.

In a report released Monday, S&P said the Philippine Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) eased to 51 in February from 52.3 in January.

PMI of above 50 indicates improvement of the sector while below the neutral score reflects deterioration.

"Robust growth observed from the end of the previous year into the beginning of this year waned in February, as the latest survey data indicated slower expansions in output and new orders," said S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch.

The report however noted that despite the slight cooldown in growth in new orde...