Hundreds of pieces of luggage are left behind at the NAIA Terminal 3 due to a problem with the facility's baggage handling system. Contributed photo c/o Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA (UPDATE) - Hundreds of pieces of luggage were reportedly left behind at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport because the baggage handling system of Terminal 3 was "not working properly."

Passengers of Cebu Pacific who had already departed and arrived at their destinations reported that they were still waiting for their baggage to be delivered.

AirAsia meanwhile said it has deployed additional personnel to address the issue. AirAsia Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said that because of these proactive measures, the airline "has not encountered delays in baggage handling so far." 

Meanwhile, in a statement on its official Facebook Page, Cebu Pacific said it is addressing concerns regarding delayed bags due to ongoing technical issues with the baggage handling system.

"We are working closely with the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) which is also exerting every effort to resolve the technical challenges as quickly as possible and restore normal operations," Cebu Pacific said.

The Gokongwei-led airline said it has given passengers the choice of having their bags delivered to their destination or picking them up at the airport for domestic flights.

"For international flights, a similar option was available along with delivery services for passengers with onward destinations. Our teams are doing everything in their power to expedite baggage deliveries and ensure all affected passengers are assisted promptly," the airline said.

"We understand the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate our passengers' patience and understanding," the company added.

The New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC), which operates the airport, said it is working closely with Cebu Pacific on the issue. 

"To minimize the impact on travelers, both NNIC and Cebu Pacific have increased manpower to expedite baggage processing. Additionally, alternative systems and protocols have been activated to resolve the issue as swiftly as possible," NNIC said in a statement. 

The airport operator said the incident shows "the urgent need to upgrade NAIA’s aging infrastructure." 

NNIC said it will replace the 20-year-old baggage handling system and has already procured a new, advanced system, with additional redundancy measures set to be implemented to prevent future disruptions and enhance operational efficiency.

When NNIC took over the operations of the airport last month, it promised to resolve the numerous issues that have plagued the airport including broken walkalators, restrooms, air conditioning systems and others.

- With a report from Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News