A group of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Middle East has urged the government to help the family of an OFW who died of cancer while onboard a Philippine-bound Saudi Airlines last Wednesday.

In a statement, the Migrante-Middle East said the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration (OWWA) should immediately give assistance to the family of Joel Llorente and let his children avail themselves of the OWWA scholarship program and family assistance loan.

"We are calling OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon not to wait for the family of the deceased OFW Lorrente to approach OWWA for assistance; OWWA should promptly extend assistance to the family such as burial assistance, among other assistance due him," John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional coordinator said.

Llorente worked as maintenance supervisor at Tashelat Marketing Company in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for more than eight years before he got sick of cancer of the throat.

The group saluted Llorente for his sacrifices and contribution in keeping the Philippine economy afloat through his remittances.

"Working for eight and a half years abroad is a tough sacrifice of an OFW, surviving all those years working in a foreign land, all for love of his family, only to arrive home dead," Monterona said.