MANILA - The government has yet to verify media reports that 17,000 jobs await Filipinos in the United Kingdom, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Wednesday.

"Iyang sinasabing 17,000, iyun ang pangangailangan ng UK sa mga magtatrabaho... But it has to be verified on the ground ng ating Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)," POEA Deputy Administrator Joyce Sanchez said in an interview with radio DZMM.

Senator Joel Villanueva was recently quoted in media reports as saying that 17,000 in-demand jobs with high pay are available in the UK and open for Filipinos.

The POLO, Sanchez said, still needs to verify the existence of these jobs.

Principal employers in the UK should also coordinate with licensed recruitment agencies in the Philippines and seek accreditation from POEA.

Sanchez said verified job openings will be listed in the POEA website.