BY REGINA BENGCO

PRESIDENT Arroyo and her Cabinet will lead today’s celebration of the 111th Independence Day, which would be highlighted by a three-day nationwide mega-jobs fair.

This year’s theme is "Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipagan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan."

Malacañang dispensed with the traditional grand parade, saying government will bring jobs and livelihood programs to the people to help them mitigate the impact of the global economic crisis.

The jobs and livelihood fairs will run until Sunday, during which about 7,000 local and overseas jobs will be offered.

About 37 private companies will be participating, including SM Super Malls, Smart Telecom, Pepsi Cola, Jollibee, Chowking, Watsons, Fuller Life, Jafra Inc., 7-Eleven, Mart-One, France Asia International Inc., Al-Almia International and Greenworld Placement Services.

Arroyo directed Cabinet members to implement jobs and livelihood fairs during the Independence Day celebration in their respective areas of stewardship under the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).

Malacañang will deviate from the flag-raising ceremony at Rizal Park (Luneta) and Arroyo will instead hold it in Rizal Park in Marbel, South Cotabato where job and livelihood fairs were also set up.

In the afternoon, she will inspect the ongoing LRT 1 extension (from Monumento in Caloocan City to North ave. in Quezon City) and ride an MRT train from North EDSA to Magallanes in Pasay City with call center workers, hospital staff and private security guards of different establishments who work the graveyard shift.

The President will be briefed at the Muñoz Market side of the LRT 1 Extension by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza and by LRT Administrator Melquiades Robles.

Arroyo wants the project completed in December.