Benedict Maravilla

A bill that will penalize concert ticket scalpers to protect consumers from overpriced costs has been filed in the Senate.

Named the “Anti-Ticket Scalping Act”, Senator Mark Villar said that the bill aims to prohibit the excessive addition of concert ticket prices and prevent exploitation of concert goers in purchasing one.


"Inihain po natin ang panukalang batas na ito upang matigil na o masugpo ang lumalalang scalping sa bansa na sumasamantala ng ating mga kababayang concert goers o avid fans. Hindi na po makatwiran ang pagpapatong ng di makataong halaga sa mga concert at events ticket ng mga scalper na ito," Villar said.

Villar added that the Philippines is one of the top concert destinations in the world having at least 150 concerts in 2024, emphasizing the need for the bill.

The senator said that scalpers are also considered scammers, given the exploitative activities they engage to earn high value.

"These scalpers are scammers at hindi po tayo papayag na mas lalo pa silang dumami at patuloy na makapang-loko ng mga Pilipino," Villar said.

The bill will prohibit the reselling and distributing of admission tickets for entertainment events without permission from the authorized organizers, as well as engaging in large scale scalping operations. Reselling of tickets at a price higher than ten percent of the face value is also not allowed. 

A fine of Php 100,000 and/or imprisonment of six months for first offense will be filed to those who are found guilty of ticket scalping, and may go up to as much as Php 500,000 and/or imprisonment.