Senator Grace Poe on Monday called on government to take immediate action against unscrupulous traders who reportedly sell "fake" liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks.

She particularly asked the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Trade and Industry (Department of Trade and Industry) to investigate the scheme.

The senator said she received reports that defective LPG tanks are being sold by some businessmen to consumers.

"Maraming reklamong nakararating sa aming opisina. Kung minsan kalawangin daw at madalas malabo o walang brand ang LPG na kanilang nabibili (A lot of complaints have reached our office. They said some of tanks they bought were already corroded with rust or do not anymore indicate the brand of the LPG)," she said in a statement.

"Ang masakit pa nito, sapat ang bayad nila pero kulang sa takdang 11 kilo na timbang ang binibigay sa kanila (What's worse is that they paid for an 11-kilogram tank but some are below the standard weight)," she added.

"Hindi lang nito ninanakawan ang mamimili, nilalagay pa nito sa peligro ang buhay ng gumagamit ng depektibong produkto (They are not only stealing from consumers, but they are also putting the lives of consumers  at risk for letting them use defective products)," Poe lamented.

Poe likewise appealed to the agencies to address the increase in the prices of LPG.

"Saan pa pupunta ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap? Halos lahat ng presyo ng mga bilihin ay tumaas na at sumabay pa itong LPG. Dapat umaksyon kaagad ang kinauukulang ahensya (Where will our poor countryment go? Almost all of the commodities have already gotten expensive and prices of LPGs, too. Concerned agencies should take action immediately)."

The price of cooking LPG has increased twice at the start of this year. In January, oil companies announced a raise of at least P4 per kilogram, and this month, another increase of about P3 per kilogram.Poe said that at present, LPG prices for a standard 11-kg cylinder currently range from P760 to P837, depending on the brand.