Senate /Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 DEC 10 P 3:43 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No._ 159*7 Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT TO REGULATE THE RESALE OF TICKETS TO EVENTS, CONCERTS, SPORTING ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER PUBLIC GATHERINGS PROHIBITING UNAUTHORIZED SCALPING AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE In recent years, the Philippines has seen an unprecedented boom in concerts, sporting events, festivals, fan meets, and other large-scale entertainment gatherings so much so that Filipinos now ranks 4th among the top concert spenders in the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring both the demand for and willingness of Filipinos to invest in live-event experiences . World-class performers now routinely include Manila in their tours, and local productions continue to draw massive crowds. This growth reflects not only the rising demand for recreation among Filipinos but also the significant economic opportunities that the entertainment sector brings to the country. Yet alongside this surge in enthusiasm is a problem that has increasingly frustrated the public: the rampant resale of tickets through unauthorized channels at highly inflated prices?. Ordinary fans many of whom line up early, join online queues, or save for months, often find themselves shut out just after a few minutes of ticket releases, only to see the same seats reappear on resale platforms or social media for several times their original price. This practice has evolved into an organized and ' GMA Integrated News, "Pinoys Rank 4th among Top Concert Spenders in Asia-Pacific," GMA News Online, February 17, 2024, asia-pacific/story/. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/hobbiesandactivities/897775/pinoys-rank-4th-among-top-concert-spenders-in- 2 Atty. Gilberto Lauengco, "Ticket Scalping | Philippine News Agency," Philippine News Agency, September 18, 2024, https://www.pna.gov.ph/opinion/pieces/940-ticket-scalping.
profitable underground market that preys on consumers' desire to attend once in a lifetime events. What makes the situation more alarming is the absence of a comprehensive national policy addressing ticket scalping. While a few cities have local ordinances penalizing such acts, these scattered efforts are not enough to address modern scalping schemes that operate nationwide. The result is a marketplace where unfair trade practices thrive and where consumers are routinely misled, overcharged or evens scammed with counterfeit tickets. This bill seeks to address these gaps by providing stronger protections to the public and clearer accountability for those engaged in the sale, resale, and distribution of admission tickets. It introduces safeguards suited for today's digital ticketing environment, such as measures against automated bots and bulk purchasing systems that allow scalpers to sweep tickets in seconds. It also establishes obligations for event organizers and ticketing platforms to maintain transparent that their systems do not indirectly enable scalping. Every Filipino should have a genuine and reasonable chance to purchase tickets at their true price, not the marked-up amount dictated by predatory middlemen. By strengthening regulation, improving enforcement, and closing the loopholes that scalpers exploit, this bill protects the rights of fans and promotes integrity within the entertainment and events industry. In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. RAFFY T. TULFO
Spuate Office of the secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 DEC 10 P3:43 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE S. No. 1597 Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo AN ACT TO REGULATE THE RESALE OF TICKETS TO CONCERTS, EVENTS, SPORTING ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER PUBLIC GATHERINGS PROHIBITING UNAUTHORIZED SCALPING AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Ticket Scalping
2 Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect consumers
from unfair, deceptive, and exploitative practices in the sale and distribution of entertainment tickets. Concerts, sports events, and cultural performances are vital for 6 recreation, livelihood, and economic activity, and access to these must be fair and 7 transparent. The State shall prevent fraud for ticket purchasing, overpriced reselling, and distribution of unauthorized sellers. Regulation will cover both physical and digital ticketing, promoting accountability among organizers and platforms while preventing misuse of technology. Measures shall guarantee equal access, encourage responsible business practices, and deter abusive conduct that limits affordable ticket availability.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Admission Ticket - Any physical or electronic voucher that grants the holder entry to an entertainment event, including concerts, sports competitions, cultural performances, and similar gatherings;
b) Entertainment Event - refers to any event, occasion, occurrence or activity that provides amusement or recreation organized by persons, which are open to public and involves distribution of admission tickets such as sports shows, concerts, stage performances, beauty pageants, festivals, road shows, fan meets or any similar undertakings; c) Ticketing Platform - Any physical or online service, website, or application used to sell, distribute, or resell admission tickets to the public; d) Resale - The sale or transfer of an admission ticket by a person other than the original authorized seller; e) Face Value - refers to the price of the ticket set by the event producer or organizer or the original purchase price of an admission ticket; f) Automated Bot - Software or technology designed to purchase multiple tickets simultaneously, often for resale, in a manner that disrupts fair access for the general public; and g) Unauthorized Seller - Any person or entity selling or distributing tickets without the consent or authorization of the event organizer.
Sec. 4. Duties and Responsibilities of Entities Engaged in the Business of Event
Ticketing, Event Production, and Event Services. - All entities involved in ticketing, event production, or related services shall ensure transparency in pricing and ticket availability and implement measures to prevent unfair bulk-buying or automated purchases. They must address consumer complaints promptly, provide clear refund or exchange policies, protect consumer data, and comply with this Act and other applicable laws. Entities are also responsible for ensuring the security and reliability of their digital platforms and for cooperating with government agencies in investigations related to ticketing practices.
Sec. 5. Prohibition of Ticket Scalping. - The following acts shall constitute as
ticket scalping, whether committed online or onsite: a) Selling, reselling, or distributing admission tickets without the authorization of the event organizer; b) Using automated bots, scripts, or other technologies to purchase multiple tickets in a manner that limits fair access to the public;
C) Inflating face value ticket prices above the authorized amount by more than 15%, unless expressly permitted by the event organizer; d) Engaging in deceptive, misleading, or fraudulent practices in the sale, resale, or distribution of tickets; and e) Facilitating bulk-buying schemes or other actions that prevent reasonable access for legitimate consumers.
Sec. 6. Institution of Complaint. - Any person who believes that a violation of this
Act has occurred may file a complaint to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which shall serve as the primary implementing agency responsible for receiving and 10 resolving complaints related to the unauthorized resale or scalping of tickets. The DTI through its relevant bureaus or attached agencies, including all law enforcement agencies, may institute a complaint for violation of this Act before the appropriate court.
Sec. 7. Penalties. - The following penalties shall be imposed upon any person
found guilty of any act prohibited in Section 5 hereof: a) For the first offense, a fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment of six (6) months, or both, at the discretion of the court; b) For the second offense, a fine of seventy five thousand pesos (P75,000.00) or imprisonment of one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court; and c) For the third and subsequent offenses, a fine of one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulation. - Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DTI in coordination with other relevant agencies shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for implementing the law.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected by shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters
of instruction, proclamations, or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,