TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) announced Sunday that the city government will reinstate a fresh milk program for students starting in April, using municipal funding.

Speaking at a "Walk for Health, Walk with Nurses” event, Chiang said the program will cost NT$184 million (US$5.6 million) annually, per CNA.

He expressed hope that the central government would resume the nationwide fresh milk program, emphasizing its benefits for children's growth and health. Chiang said he had personally visited milk distributors to discuss partnerships and chaired interdepartmental meetings to address logistical issues related to relaunching the initiative.

Interim funding will come from an education development fund, Chiang said. The program, previously limited to public elementary schools and affiliated kindergartens, will be expanded to include private elementary schools and kindergartens.

Under the new system, students will be able to collect fresh milk at convenience stores or supermarkets using their digital student ID cards, Chiang added.

The Cabinet discontinued the nationwide school milk program at the end of last year, leaving it up to local governments to decide whether to continue funding it. On the same day as the Cabinet’s announcement, Chiang pledged to reinstate the program in Taipei by April.

The Taipei City Department of Education said in a press release that the program is expected to benefit 184,000 students, who will receive one bottle of dairy or soy milk per week. A contractor bidding process is currently underway to develop a digital distribution system, which will include separate digital ID cards for kindergarten students.