Rescuers have pulled two people from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in the Philippines, bringing the death toll to three, officials have said, as crews continue search and rescue operations at the site.

One of the two victims had a pulse when he was retrieved, but later died, while another suffered cardiac arrest while still trapped, Maria Leah Sajili, an information officer at Bureau of Fire Protection, said in a phone interview with the Reuters news agency on Monday.

Officials said an investigation is under way into what caused the collapse of the multi-storey building in the city of Angeles, north of the capital, Manila.

Rescuers were also working to retrieve another body buried under the debris, Sajili said, but it would only be added to the official toll once it has been recovered.

Sajili said there could be more victims trapped, after thermal scans detected signs of breathing and heartbeats beneath the rubble.

The number of missing stood at 17, most of them construction workers listed as being on duty at the site, Sajili said.

Officials said up to 70 people were employed at the construction site.