Hon. Carlito S. Puno, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, inducted into office the PSDL officers and charter members on 24 February 2007 at the Traders Hotel, Manila, Philippines.

The Philippine Society for Distance Learning, Inc. (PSDL) is an organization of distance learning practitioners that was formally organized on 25 September 2006. The society promotes the exchange of knowledge, information, and practices in the field of open learning and distance education in the hope of setting up a standard in their practice in the country.

Dr. Felix Librero, PSDL Chair and former Chancellor of the UP Open University, said that organization of the society is a significant occasion because it will bring together the people who are involve in the development and promotion of the distance education and open learning in the county.

During its organizational meeting held at SEAMEO-Innotech, Quezon City, the charter members elected the officers and members of its Board of Trustees. They are as follows:

Board of Trustees:
Zenaida Domingo of SEAMEO- Innotech
Felix Librero of UP Open University
Victoria Bautista of UP Open University
Flor Amor Monta of Central Luzon State University
Liza Carascal of UP Los Baños
Antonio Refre of the Philippine Women’s University
Carmencita Castolo of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Open University
Nemah Hermosa of UP OpenUniversity
Josefina Natividad of UP Diliman

Officers:
Chair:  Felix Librero
Vice Chair:      Zenaida Domingo
Secretary:       Victoria Bautista
Treasurer:       Liza Carascal
Auditor:            Carmencita Castolo

The Philippine Society for Distance Learning, Inc. (PSDL) is an academic society that also performs some functions of a scientific society.  The main goal of the Society is to serve as a forum for higher level discourse on open and distance learning.  Towards this end, the Society also promotes the active exchange of ideas through symposia, conferences, and research publications.

PSDL Secretariat is temporarily housed at the UP Open University.  A significant feature of PSDL, being an academic Society, is that membership is by invitation and election.  An important qualification for membership is active involvement in research and implementation of formal distance education programs. 

Prof. Librero said that membership to PSDL is by invitation, but considering that the Membership Committee may not be completely aware of all the relevant activities of those who might wish to become members, there is nothing that would prevent individuals to submit to the Membership Committee their respective portfolios for evaluation.

Interested individuals can address inquiries to Professor Nemah Hermosa, Chair, Membership Committee, PSDL, c/o Office of the Dean, Faculty of Education, UP Open University, Los Baños, Laguna; or send email to nnhermosa@yahoo.com. (Dr. Paz H. Diaz, FMDS and Luisa A. Gelisan, OC).