Event organizers required to publicize QC or pay fine

By: Jeannette I. Andrade - 10 years ago

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—An event or concert organizer who fails to mention Quezon City as the venue of the activity in promotional materials and advertisements is to be fined P5,000 under a newly passed city ordinance.

Mayor Herbert Bautista signed the ordinance on March 20. It requires all producers, event organizers, and advertisers promoting an event, concert, sports event or any other similar exhibition to be held in the city to include in their promotion for the activity the phrase, “Live in Quezon City, Metro Manila” or “Quezon City, Philippines” and to carry the local government logo.

The measure, which aims to promote Quezon City as a tourist destination, will take effect 15 days from the date it was approved by the mayor.

The ordinance notes that while Quezon City has played host to a number of concerts, sporting events and live shows by local and international artists, “many of the promotional advertisements of these events are being advertised such as ‘to be performed live in Manila’ although the event was performed not in the city of Manila but in Quezon City.”

According to the measure, “Any person or persons who violate any provision of this ordinance shall suffer the penalty of P5,000 which shall accrue to the tourism program of the tourism department of Quezon City. The collected penalties shall accrue to the general fund under a special account to be established for the purpose.”

It taps the local business permit and licensing office, the city treasurer, through its task force on amusement tax, and the city building officials to provide necessary support for the effective enforcement the ordinance.