TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) on Thursday confirmed the city will fund free lunches for all elementary and junior high school students.

Following Taipei, Keelung, and Taichung’s announcements of free school lunches, Chen said that Kaohsiung will follow suit, per CNA. The program is expected to add NT$1.8 billion (US$56.97 million) in funding per school year, benefiting roughly 180,000 students citywide.

Since the 2024 school year, the city has allocated NT$140 million annually to subsidize meals at NT$4 per student. It has also spent NT$58 million yearly to provide elementary students with weekly milk.

Chen added the city will continue using ingredients that meet government standards for safety, quality, and traceability. For this school year, Kaohsiung will allocate NT$450 million to ensure lunches use traceable, domestically produced ingredients.