Some remains were found clustered together in parts of the vessel, said forensic specialist Richard Allan Mangalip from the Philippine National Police, while others were scattered across different areas of the ship, which was carrying more than 130 people and was nearing its destination when it caught fire.
The ferry was heading southwest from Manila to Coron, in Palawan province, a trip that generally takes about 20 hours.
"Most of them are already in a charred condition," Mangalip said at a press conference, adding that authorities could not provide a firm timeline for identification because of the volume of specimens that must be examined. "It could be weeks, or it could be much longer."
That assessment came a day after rescuers recovered 41 additional remains from the ferry, raising the death toll to 76 and leaving 13 people unaccounted for.
Investigators said they had yet to determine where the fire started and were still trying to access key sections of the vessel, including flooded lower decks and the engine room, where evidence may help establish the cause.
A statement from the Maritime Industry Authority, citing survivor accounts, said two explosions were heard inside the vessel shortly before the fire broke out.
