The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas kept the cost of borrowing steady today, the first pause since it began hiking interest rates in May last year.br br The key interest rate remains at 6 point 25 percent. This comes after the slower increase in prices of goods with inflation cooling for the third straight month in April.br br Banks and lending companies use the Central Bank's rates as a benchmark for loan, credit card, and deposit rates.br br Let's now get the thoughts of Oxford Economics assistant economist Makoto Tsuchiya joining us from Tokyo.