The PMAP Awards were institutionalized in 1977 with the vision to recognize outstanding organizations and individuals to help advance the people management profession in the country.

There are three categories for the PMAP Awards - Employer of the Year, People Manager of the Year and the People Program of the Year. These awards may be vied for by organizations and individuals in both the private and public sectors.

The PMAP Awards program has achieved a number of milestones since its institution. In 2011, the first Employer of the Year for Small and Medium Enterprises was awarded. In 2014, the PMAP Awards started recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals in the public/government sector. In 2016, the PMAP Awards formally introduced its own criteria for the Employer of the Year and People Program of the Year Awards. This criteria is based on the People Management Excellence Framework, a product of an in-depth analysis of practices and characteristics of past Employer of the Year awardees and was written by PMAP Past President Mr. Enrique V. Abadesco, DPM.

Starting 2017, the PMAP Awards not only recognized the winners of the three categories but the finalists as well through the PMAP Exemplar Award. This award recognizes their outstanding contributions and best practices in human resource management.

Now on its 42nd year, the PMAP Awards program hopes to continue this tradition of recognizing the best practices in the people management field for others to emulate. The program also hopes to expand its reach by introducing a regional awards search.