MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for the swift passage of his proposed Anti-Ticket Scalping Act following reports that tickets for BTS’ upcoming concert in the Philippines are being resold at significantly inflated prices.

Pangilinan, who authored and sponsored Senate Bill No. 1989, said the measure seeks to explicitly prohibit ticket scalping and strengthen consumer protection against abusive resale practices.

The senator said his office received reports from concertgoers regarding the resale of tickets for the BTS World Tour Arirang Concert, prompting renewed calls for the bill’s passage.

“Batay sa mga nakarating na reports sa ating opisina, halos isang dekada na naghihintay ang BTS fans na magkaroon muli ng concert dito sa atin. Hindi tama na pagsamantalahan ang pananabik at paghihintay na ito ng mga scalpers,” he said.

According to social media posts from Filipino BTS fans, known collectively as ARMY, tickets for the concert scheduled next year are being resold for amounts ranging from P30,000 to P90,000.

The reported resale prices far exceed the original ticket costs, with VIP Soundcheck tickets priced at P25,000 and Bleachers 2 tickets at P7,500.

Under the proposed legislation, individuals and entities found engaging in ticket scalping would face penalties aimed at curbing excessive resale practices.

The bill provides penalties of P100,000 or imprisonment of six months, or both, for a first offense; P250,000 or imprisonment of one year, or both, for a second offense; and P500,000 or imprisonment of three years, or both, for a third offense.

The measure also seeks to strengthen oversight of ticketing platforms and event organizers through improved monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

“Nagpapakahirap ang mga tunay na fans na ipunin ang pambili ng mga tickets na ito. Nagpapakahirap sila na mag-queue sa mga ticketing platforms para makabili,” Pangilinan said.

“Lumalaban sila nang tama at patas, pero ninanakaw ng mga scalper ang oportunidad nilang makita ang mga iniidolo nila,” he added.

Pangilinan urged fellow lawmakers to support the measure and facilitate its immediate enactment, citing the growing prevalence of online ticket reselling and the need for regulations that address transactions in the digital marketplace.

The BTS World Tour Arirang Concert is set for March 13 and 14, 2027 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan and is expected to attract 25,000 attendees per show.

The Korean group last performed in the Philippines in 2017.