THE Manila Times will hold a forum titled 'Port Digitalization and Modernization: Fueling our way to become an Asian Maritime Hub' today (Thursday, March 30), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Citadines Bay City Manila.

The event will present several experts to share their perspectives on how digitalization and automation will revolutionize the Philippine maritime industry.

Maritime Industry Authority Deputy Administrator for Operations Nannette Villamor-Dinopol will talk about the importance of modernizing the country's shipping infrastructure.

Mark Jon Palomar, a lawyer and department manager at the Commercial Services Department of the Philippine Ports Authority, will give updates on the current state of the Philippine port modernization program and the country's readiness to accept very large crude carriers and Post Panamax vessels.

Panamax ships are designed to travel through the Panama Canal.

Mary Ann Pastrana, chairman of Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp., will discuss the state of domestic shipping in the country, as well as the challenges of modernization for stakeholders.

The forum will be livestreamed via The Manila Times' website and Facebook page, as well as the TMT YouTube and Dailymotion channels.