Despite finding only corpses in recent days, navy and coastguard ships and helicopters continued to scour the waters for the 45 still missing from the St Thomas Aquinas ferry, said local coastguard commander Weniel Azcuna.

"We are still hoping to find more survivors but we are realistic and we expect we will find more dead bodies," he told.

The ferry sank quickly after it collided with a cargo ship off the central city of Cebu on Friday night. A total of 750 passengers and crew out of the 870 on board were rescued.

Azcuna said divers were still searching the debris-choked vessel, and declined to set a date for when the operation would end.

The new toll was up by four from Wednesday.