OCTA Research
{{Short description|Polling company in the Philippines}}
{{use mdy|date=August 2021}}
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| name = OCTA Research
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| formation = {{start date and age|2019}}
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| location_city = Quezon City
| location_country = Philippines
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| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Ranjit Rye{{cite news |title=What's the issue with Octa Research? |url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/things-to-know-issue-with-octa-research-group-covid-19 |access-date=8 September 2021 |work=Rappler |date=6 September 2021 |language=en}}
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| website = {{URL|www.octaresearch.com}}
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OCTA Research (stylized as OCTAResearch) is a private polling, research, and consultation firm based in Quezon City which became known for their advisories related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.{{cite news |last1=Malasig |first1=Jeline |title=Are you confused between UP-OCTA, OCTA Research? Here's the deal with UP and research team |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/03/09/187157/are-you-confused-between-up-octa-octa-research-heres-the-deal-with-up-and-research-team/ |access-date=28 August 2021 |work=Interaksyon |date=9 March 2021}}
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Background
The OCTA Research Group is alternatively known as UP–OCTA since they are initially composed of eight members affiliated with the University of the Philippines (UP). Other faculty and alumni of UP as well as people affiliated with other universities joined the group.{{cite news |last1=Malasig |first1=Jeline |title=Are you confused between UP-OCTA, OCTA Research? Here's the deal with UP and research team |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2021/03/09/187157/are-you-confused-between-up-octa-octa-research-heres-the-deal-with-up-and-research-team/ |access-date=28 August 2021 |work=Interaksyon |date=9 March 2021}} The group was established in 2019, initially with the main intention to become a polling group. However with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, OCTA Research decided to focus on making projections related to the health crisis.
The OCTA Research Group began conducting study on the pandemic in April 2020 relying on data from the Department of Health.{{cite news |title='Premature' to ease modified ECQ in Metro Manila – U.P. experts |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/up-experts-say-premature-ease-mecq-metro-manila |access-date=28 August 2021 |work=Rappler |date=27 May 2020 |language=en}} They have issued projections on COVID-19 cases, made recommendations to the government's COVID-19 community quarantine measures, and conducted opinion poll surveys.{{cite news |last1=Lalu |first1=Gabriel Pabico |title=5 solons want OCTA Research capabilities, background probed |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1468884/5-solons-want-octa-research-capabilities-background-probed |access-date=28 August 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=4 August 2021}}{{cite news |title=House inquiry sought on OCTA Research group |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/house-inquiry-sought-on-octa-research-group/ |access-date=28 August 2021 |work=BusinessWorld |date=4 August 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=John Eric |title=80% of Filipinos 'approve' of gov't's COVID-19 response — OCTA survey |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1480252/80-of-filipinos-approve-of-govts-covid-19-response-octa-survey |access-date=28 August 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=28 August 2021}}
The organization has been subject to criticism by some members of the Congress due to finding OCTA's public releases as alarmist due to the usage of "surge" to refer to a rise of COVID-19 cases and "epicenters" to certain areas with an upward trend of cases. The group has also been perceived to preempt the expectations of lockdown due to their public announcements. The methodology of the group has also been questioned.
In August 2021, the group expressed intentions to establish itself in public opinion polling, naming SWS and Pulse Asia as benchmarks.{{cite news |last1=Panti |first1=Llanesca |title=OCTA Research looks to make name for public opinion polling like SWS, Pulse |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/800039/octa-research-looks-to-make-name-for-public-opinion-polling-like-sws-pulse/story/ |access-date=28 August 2021 |work=GMA News |date=19 August 2021 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines}}
Category:2019 establishments in the Philippines
Category:Companies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic
Category:COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines