Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

060

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Scalping” is the practice of buying and selling of tickets for admission to an event by an
unauthorized person outside the authorized official booth, outlet, or place designated for the
purpose.

Exploitative people see scalping as an easy way to make money by hoarding events tickets
and forcing the patrons to buy from them at exorbitant prices. Worse, since scalpers are
unauthorized sellers, patrons run the risk of being scammed in the event that the tickets are
not delivered or are later on discovered as counterfeit.

Scalping has become so rampant that patrons actually expect to still find ticket sellers right
outside the venue of an event before such event starts. Partly, scalpers exist because ticket
buyers tolerate them.

Currently, there is no national law that prohibit the act of scalping, only ordinances. In order
to completely curb such unscrupulous practice, it is only apt to nationalize the policy on
prohibition against scalping.

Thus, this measure seeks to prohibit the act of scalping and impose the penalties of fine and
imprisonment upon those who engage in the act of scalping. Further, any person who shall
buy admission tickets from scalpers shall also be penalized.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent approval of this bis



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4950

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF “SCALPING” OR THE UNAUTHORIZED
BUYING AND/OR SELLING OF ADMISSION TICKETS OUTSIDE AUTHORIZED
TICKET BOOTHS, OUTLETS, OR PLACES DESIGNATED FOR THE PURPOSE
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Efficient Use of Paper
Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect the interests of
the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for
business and industry.

SEC. 3. Definition of Scalping. - Scalping is the unlawful selling or buying of
admission tickets outside the authorized official booths, outlets, or places designated for the
purpose.

SEC. 4. Prohibition Against Scalping. — It shall be unlawful for any person, without
the written permission of the owner or operator of the place where an entertainment event is
to be held, to sell an admission ticket to such entertainment event outside the authorized
ticket booths, outlets or places designated for the purpose, which admission ticket was
bought for the purpose of re-selling the same in an attempt to profit from the transaction;
Provided further, it shall be equally unlawful to buy an admission ticket from persons
engaged in scalping; and Provided finally, that it shall also be unlawful for any person to
finance, manage, or operate ticket scalping activities.

SEC. 5. Penalties. - The following penalties shall be imposed upon any person found
guilty of violating any act prohibited in Section 4 of this Act:

a) First offense — A fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000) or
imprisonment of three (3) months, or both, at the discretion of the court.

b) Second offense — A fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000)
or imprisonment of six (6) months, or both, at the discretion of the court.

c) Third offense — A fine of not less than Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P250,000) or imprisonment of one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court.


SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions not so declared shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All issuances, laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,